Even before we had finished Secret Santa 2008, Colleen and I were kicking around ideas for another fundraiser. February is typically a very slow time for donations, because it's after the holidays (when those credit card bills come due) and before taxes. Working on our "dribble theory," we hatched an idea for a fundraiser that would, at the very least, give some equine 501c3 groups increased exposure, as well as net them a bit of cash.

The idea was simple: we invited the groups who had participated in Secret Santa to send us a picture and a brief description of said equine (as well as a bit about their organization), for participation in a Valentine's Day Fundraiser. For $5, payable directly to each group, you could "vote" for their equine.

Colleen designed the website, using the name "Special Horses" to designate the fundraiser - this was a name she had chosen for what she hoped would one day be her equine assisted therapy website...and which she didn't think would ever come to fruition, so she gave it up for the fundraiser. The website was all I dreamt for when I first conceived Secret Santa, and I was thrilled to be associated with it! (Colleen did establish Borrowed Freedom Equine Therapies, in Endicott NY, www.borrowedfreedom.org, so all was not lost!)

We had hoped that each group might net $50...10 votes. That was reasonable, surely? To our surpise, and joy, each group netted, on average, $150. Not bad, considering the economic times, considering this was our very first effort, considering that there were about 10 groups, scattered across the US.

We had a blast with the "contest." The groups were also delighted. And Colleen and I realized that we might not want to let this go...