The Race for Education

The Race For Education (RFE) was established in 2002 by Elisabeth Jensen and Bill Casner, to provide educational programs and college scholarships to young people in the equine and agriculture industry with significant financial need. Over time the organization’s mission statement has expanded to meet the needs of the community.

Although the majority of the students involved in The Race For Education program come from high risk and extreme need backgrounds, the graduation rate is over 70% while the national average is about % and 90 % of RFE students make the dean’s list.

In 2005 with an Assets For Independence grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, The Race For Education established a Financial Literacy Program to help students who, based on their background, would probably otherwise receive no financial guidance. In 2008 this program was recognized by The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI), along with the President’s Council on Financial Literacy.

The Race For Education established a partnership in 2008 with the American Association of Equine Practitioners to offer one scholarship to each of the 34 Veterinary School in North America. Now in its’ fifth year the program is funded by RFE, The AAEP Foundation and Platinum Performance and continues to be very successful.

The “Leg Up” program, a partnership with the Kentucky 4H Program got off the ground in 2013 offering a scholarship to one student at each of the over 100 chapters in Kentucky.

Our Starting Gate program, launched in 2011 in Kentucky, is already a verifiable success. The afterschool program for middle school students offers homework help, a reading curriculum, as well as enrichment and life skills. In just 3 years, test scores have improved in every classroom in every school. The program is offered in 5 middle schools in Central Kentucky. This year we have over 150 students enrolled with a record number in each class. We will continue to offer scholarships annually; however, our primary focus will continue to be on Starting Gate. It is our belief, by investing our resources in students earlier, by the time they graduate from high school; they will truly be prepared for college or career, whichever their next step may be.

The Race For Education is a public charity, receiving funding from many sources, including federal and foundation grants, private individuals, and corporations. The organization’s most notable fundraising initiative invites owners to nominate their horses to the program and agree to contribute a percentage of the horse’s earnings to the foundation. Its’ roster has included Kentucky Derby winners Animal Kingdom, Street Sense and Super Saver and Breeders’ Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby, as well as hundreds of other horses racing for education, every day, all over the country.

The organization is managed by a volunteer board of directors and an executive committee with both professional and academic experience. The organization also receives an annual contribution that covers all operational expenses. This allows 100% of the contributions received to go directly to student programs and services.