The U.S. Eventing Association will no longer award the Beacon Charm Fund Grant, which was established by the du Pont family and was given annually to a young rider.
“The USEA and the USEA Endowment Trust are extremely grateful to Sophie du Pont and the du Pont family for the Beacon Charm Grant, and for all the marvelous things they have done for the sport of eventing over the years,” said Kevin Baumgardner, chairman of the USEA Endowment Trust board, in a statement. “We continue to support the goals of the grant. Recently, however, we have had a serious, but good faith, divergence of views with the grantor on issues relating to the administration of the grant.”
Following an amicable parting of ways, the USEA Endowment Trust transferred the grant funds to a 501(c)(3) at the du Pont family’s request. The family retains the option to continue to award the Beacon Charm grant if desired.
“We will support whatever decision is made as to the use of these funds, whether to continue the Beacon Charm grant, or a similar program, through this new administrative vehicle, or for another purpose,” said Baumgardner. “Again we have nothing but respect for the du Pont family’s storied place in the annals of eventing and long history of giving.”
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Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eleuthère Irénée du Pont established the Beacon Charm Fund Grant in 1987 with a contribution to the USEA in memory of their international event horse, Beacon Charm. Ridden by Bruce Davidson, Beacon Charm won the National Intermediate Three-Day Championship at Radnor (Pa.) in 1981 before dying unexpectedly of a heart condition in turnout.
The $5,000 grant was given in his honor to a young rider who did not come from a wealthy background but had the potential to represent the United States in international competition.
Previous recipients of the grant include Kelly Sult, Lizzie Snow, Alexa Aho, Alex Ahearn and Emily Pestl-Dimmitt.
In an initiative spearheaded by former USEA Endowment Trust chair Lou Leslie, the USEA plans to set up a new grant fund named for Amy Tryon that will go to a young rider each year. The association plans to formally unveil the grant within the next few months.
