The generosity of western Canadian horse owners has helped the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) raise an additional $200,000 for equine health research during the first year of a unique matching gift incentive program.

Half of the funding–$100,000–came from more than 100 individuals, organizations, and companies whose contributions “triggered” a successful match from the fundraising incentive during its first 12 months of operation.

The second $100,000 will come from the Heather Ryan and L. David Dubé Foundation–the organization that initiated the matching gift incentive program in August 2006. The Foundation will provide up to $100,000 per year in matching funds for five years. That gives WCVM the chance to raise an additional $1 million for its equine health research activities by 2011.

“We’re extremely grateful to all donors who increased their annual donations to WCVM’s equine research program–or made their very first contributions in support of the College’s horse health activities,” says Dr. Norman Rawlings, WCVM’s associate dean of research