The Festival of Children Foundation enlisted South Coast Plaza’s carousel as a fundraising machine for two Orange County nonprofit organizations that specialize in providing equine therapy programs for kids: The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding and Mustard Seed Ranch.
More than 100 attendees cheered the 20-plus riders as they went round and round and up and down on the carousel armed only with their cell phones, raising $54,631 for the therapeutic horse-related programs.
The new Microsoft Store at South Coast Plaza provided laptops with Internet access so guests could donate online during the event at www.ridethecarousel.org.
Participants stayed on the carousel until they each raised at least $500, with many of the riders far exceeding that goal. All of the funds raised will go directly to the equine therapy organizations.
