TCA to Distribute 2,500 Backpacks to Backstretch Families Across America

Thoroughbred Charities of America announced it will distribute more than 2,500 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to school-aged children of backstretch workers across the United States, funded entirely by a single anonymous donor whose grant set the initiative in motion.

TCA Executive Director Erin Halliwell said the project came directly from the donor. "A generous donor approached TCA with the goal of directly supporting the educational needs of children of backstretch workers," Halliwell said. "We were excited to bring this idea to life and partnered with our long-time grant recipients, the Race Track Chaplaincy of America and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, who helped identify the number of children in need through their network of chaplaincies. We are incredibly grateful to this donor for making this initiative possible."

TCA will channel the backpacks through 33 racetrack chaplaincies, which will deliver them directly to families over the summer so children are prepared when the school year begins. The Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy (RTCANY) played a central role in counting how many children required supplies, drawing on their existing chaplaincy networks to determine the scale of need.

Humberto Chavez, Executive Director and Lead Track Chaplain of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, framed the effort in terms that go well beyond a back-to-school handout. "Providing backpacks and school supplies to children in the backstretch community is more than simply preparing them for the school year, it is an investment in their future," Chavez said.

The RTCA has served backstretch workers nationwide since 1971. Its New York branch, founded in 1986, operates under Chavez's leadership and serves workers at Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct. The RTCANY runs primarily on volunteers, with 15 to 20 consistent helpers at any given time and additional backup around major race meets and holidays. Over Thanksgiving, the organization distributed 200 turkeys to backstretch workers and their families. Funding comes from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the New York Racing Association, the Jockey Club Safety Net, private donors, and TCA grant funds.

Chavez has pointed to visibility as one of the chaplaincy's most pressing needs alongside financial support. "By letting the industry know that we're here, you're helping. When there's awareness, people want to get involved," he said.

The backpack initiative adds a concrete new dimension to TCA's existing grant relationship with both chaplaincy organizations, translating donor resources into direct, trackside delivery for the children who grow up in racing's backstretch communities.