Great Gatsby: Life’s a Picnic Party for a Cause

By Michelle Baker | Photos by Gregorio Photography

The friends of the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program came out to the country for the day. They drank, danced and carried on all for a good cause at the Great Gatsby: Life’s a Picnic fundraiser at Elway Hall on April 27.

Elway Hall in Warrenton, Virginia is the home of celebrated interior designer Barry Dixon and Will Thomas of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. Thomas and Dixon graciously welcomed new and old friends to Elway Hall for an afternoon of fun. Each detail from the designer drinks to the lovely picnic baskets and blankets had been carefully thought of to the delight of the guests who came from near and far to play for the day.

An NVTRP Board Member Thomas hosted the second annual garden party in the afternoon with flair once again. There is something unique about men who open their home and would do something like that just to help others. Looking out across the backyard, watching the sea of people, looking so dapper in their stylish period costumes, it was hard to imagine a better place to be.

The afternoon’s focus was on fun and fundraising with a live auction with everything from a five night stay for up to four guests at Turtle Inn Luxury Seaside Resort in Belize to an exclusive 3 liter bottle of wine with Custom NVTRP Great Gatsby Artwork from Pearmund Cellars.

Sponsors and guests raised $153,000, a new record, to benefit the construction of NVTRP’s new indoor riding arena. The Top Tier sponsors included Boeing, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Chantilly Air, Saint Germain Catering, and Total Wine.

Guests traveled back in time to the Roaring 20’s, and were treated to a flash mob of Charleston dancers, enjoyed an afternoon of jazz music by Sweet Something and a surprise fly-over by pilot David Brown in his vintage Boeing Stearman Biplane. Brown even donated an Open Cockpit Biplane Ride in his Stearman as an auction item.

NVTRP Executive Director Kelsey Gallagher, along with Rebecca Patterson, whose daughter has ridden with NVTRP for nearly 10 years, shared with guests the impact of therapeutic riding.

Patrice King Brickman, Mark Lowham, Valeri MacIntyre.

Founded in 1980, NVTRP helps each individual realize their greatest potential by providing equine-assisted activities to people with disabilities, youth-at-risk, recovering military personnel, and others in need in an inclusive, community setting. Located on the 17-acre O’Shaughnessy Farm in Clifton, Virginia, NVTRP serves almost 150 riders each week with therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy.

“Can’t repeat the past? . . . Why of course you can!” says Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic “The Great Gatsby.”

Isla McGregor, Todd Gambill, France Bognon, Timothy Watkins.

“Thank you for joining us Saturday afternoon to enthusiastically repeat the past in order to create a bright future for NVTRP’s riders,” said Wendy Baird, Development Director of the Northern VA Therapeutic Riding Program. “Great Gatsby: Life’s a Picnic succeeded beyond our wildest dreams, raising $153,000 to help fund the construction of an indoor riding arena on our 17-acre Clifton farm, ensuring that riders can continue their progress year-round, regardless of the weather.”

The next fundraiser for NVTRP will be the Polo Classic at Great Meadow on Saturday, Sept. 28. Thomas has agreed to host the VIP Tent and VIP sponsored polo viewing deck.