Sheriff’s Reserves Awarded Anita Berry Martin Memorial Fund

October 29, 2015.

PRESS RELEASE

Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler announced that Parker County Sheriff’s Office Equine Rescue Fund has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Anita Berry Martin Memorial Fund.

The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of North Texas notified the Sheriff’s Office this week of the grant to be awarded to the fund, benefiting horses which are rescued within Parker County.

“Like many Parker County residents, Anita Berry Martin was devoted to horses and wide open spaces,” said Nancy E. Jones, chief executive officer of the Community Foundation of North Texas. “We are honored to keep her legacy alive through support of local land, wildlife conservation and equine programs.”

The Parker County Sheriff’s Office found a great need for the grant after several abused and neglected horse cases were generated over the last several years.

Parker County Animal Control Officers have seized six horses since January of this year, all in critical need of veterinarian services due to abuse and neglect.

The Community Foundation Grants Committee agreed that the Parker County Sheriff’s Office Equine Rescue Fund provides a valuable service to the community by supplying veterinarian services to rescued horses from neglect and/or abuse cases, saving them from the potential threat of euthanization.

The Anita Berry Martin Memorial Fund was established at the Community Foundation of North Texas in early 2013.

Martin had a successful computer systems career in the ’60s and ’70s, within a male-dominated field. Her personal interest in genetics fueled her second career in Arabian horse breeding. Her enterprise, Greystone Arabians, became one of the premiere Arabian breeding and show horse ranches in the country. Martin worked with various Arabian horse organizations to support Cook Children’s Medical Center.

Based on her professional background and personal interests, family members suggested awarding North Texas agencies with funds to assist in providing services in support of land and wildlife preservation, equine therapy or equine welfare.

Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said he is extremely excited about the grant.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with being awarded the grant in honor of Mrs. Anita Berry Martin,” Sheriff Fowler said. “She continually serves the needs of the equine community through this fund.”

Sheriff Fowler added the grant allows the Sheriff’s Office to seek care for rescued equines without the cost of tax dollars.

“We are tremendously grateful for this grant,” Fowler said. “The need for this fund is crucial, and through the award of this grant, rescued horses have an even greater chance of surviving the abuse and neglectful situations we find them in. The Parker County Sheriff’s Office makes every effort to place all rescued equines in a permanent home.”

For 2015, eight organizations received $105,000 in grants from the Anita Berry Martin Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of North Texas. Recipients include Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Great Plains Restoration Council, Texas Land Conservation, Land Acquisition Fund, Freedom Horses, YMCA Camp Carter and Happy Hill Farm.

About Community Foundation of North Texas:

The Community Foundation of North Texas, a permanent collection of charitable funds supported by donors, serves 11 counties including Parker and Tarrant. It has assets exceeding $207 million and awarded $18.7 million in grants to nonprofits locally, regionally and nationally in 2014. For more information, visit http://www.cfntx.org.