Earle Mack’s Philanthropy in the News
America’s Best Racing Films Three-Part Series: When Horses Heal
From: America’s Best Racing
May 4, 2018
The following three-part feature video series highlights the critical and highly effective role that horses play in addressing the epidemic of U.S. military veterans returning from combat with PTSD. The series, produced by ABR Films, focuses on three distinct non-profit programs dedicated to better serving veterans through equine therapy.
When Horses Heal Part 1: SquirrelWood Equine Sanctuary
Nestled along the Hudson River in upstate New York, SquirrelWood Equine Sanctuary offers an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Program for veterans and their families. Through the interaction with the horses, including retired Thoroughbreds, veterans are assisted in learning healthy coping skills, effective communication, self-awareness and emotional regulation. These skills allow the healing to begin.
When Horses Heal Part 2: Man O’ War Project at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Spearheaded by prominent horse owner and philanthropist Earle Mack along with members of the Psychiatry Department at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the Man O’ War Project is the first university-led research trial to establish guidelines for the application of equine-assisted therapy for treating veterans with PTSD and to examine the effectiveness of this treatment for veterans.
When Horses Heal Part 3: When Horses Heal: Heroes and Horses
Heroes and Horses, a three-phase reintegration program for veterans with PTSD, was founded by ex-Navy Seal Micah Fink and is offered to qualifying veterans at no cost. It utilizes the remote wilderness of Montana, in addition to the connection between horses and humans, to challenge and inspire personal growth in veterans suffering from mental and physical scars.
View more videos from America’s Best Racing here: https://www.americasbestracing.net/videos
Horses Are Helping Vets with PTSD
From: The Fix
By: Keri Blakinger
December 29, 2017
EXCERPT: The Columbia researchers started looking into the project almost three years ago, at the urging of veteran and horse-lover Earle Mack.
Mack, who’s also the former ambassador to Finland, set up the Man O’War as a nonprofit and approached Columbia about a partnership.
Eventually they got together a pilot group in mid-2016 and launched their study.
If the first run of testing groups seems successful in the end, Fisher and her fellow researchers could look to expand the program and conduct another trial.
But research projects require a lot of staffing, time and infrastructure that makes them a pricy proposition. So even if more studies aren’t feasible, Fisher at least hopes to come out with a plan for future researchers and practitioners.
“I think the goal of the MOW project is to have us come up with a manual that can be disseminated and taught to other people,” she said. “Certainly our therapists, who don’t really work for us, I’m sure they will continue using our manual.”
Horse therapy seeks validation
From: Times Union
By: Claire Hughes
August 12, 2017
EXCERPT: “The Man O’ War project is the brainchild of Earle Mack, a veteran, former ambassador to Finland and former chair of the New York State Racing Commission, who has advocated for new training and homes for thoroughbreds after their racing careers have ended. With an initial $1.2 million boost from the Earle I. Mack Foundation, the Man O’ War Project is funding the first federally approved clinical study of equine-assisted PTSD therapy at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.
It was Mack who approached researchers in the medical school’s Department of Psychiatry with the idea, said Prudence Fisher, an associate professor of clinical psychiatric social work. Researchers there knew nothing about equine therapy, and had to start from scratch to determine how to evaluate the programs.”
A Project Named For Man O’ War To Help Men Of War And Horses
From: Quest Magazine – August 2017
Audax for Quest Magazine
EXCERPT: “A Study Named for Man o’ War is now well under way that aims to help veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by providing them with equine-assisted therapy, and in the process gives retired horses a valuable new purpose as well. The study is being funded by The Man O’ War Project, a non-pro t set up by army veteran and lifelong horseman, Ambassador Earle Mack, who had a hunch that stressed soldiers and horses would be a good match. Mack approached Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry with the idea. Columbia agreed to undertake a research trial that would put approximately 60 PTSD-suffering veterans through an equine therapy program.”
Finish the article on the study named for Man O’ War to help men of war and horses.
Earle Mack Spearheads Man O’ War Project for Veterans Combatting PTSD
From: Horses Saving Vets, Vets Saving Horses
Thoroughbred Daily News
June 22, 2017
EXCERPT: The goals of the Man O’ War project, which is spearheaded by horse owner and philanthropist Earle Mack, may seem almost too big, too much to reasonably hope for. Not only does Mack want to make major progress when it comes to dealing with the epidemic that is veterans returning from combat with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), he wants to use horses as the mechanism to do so. And if the Man O’ War project can prove unequivocally that equine assisted therapy (EAT) is a valuable tool for combating PTSD, there should be a great demand for horses to work with the veterans, including off-the-track Thoroughbreds. That has the potential to save the lives of hundreds of race horses who might otherwise be sent to slaughter.
“We are extremely optimistic at this time that an initiative like the Man O’ War project will work,” Mack said. “Our hopes and prayers are with victims of PTSD who have served our country with gallantry. We owe them more respect and better treatment. And this will save the lives of lot of Thoroughbreds that ordinarily would be mistreated or slaughtered. We are hoping for a major breakthrough in both areas.”
Finish the article on Earle Mack’s backing of the Man O’ War Project.
Study Funded by Man O’ War Project Analyzes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
From: For some traumatized veterans, the best therapy can be stroking a velvety nose
The Washington Post
June 16, 2017
EXCERPT: “The study is being funded by The Man O’ War Project, a nonprofit set up by army veteran and lifelong horseman Earle Mack, who had a hunch that stressed soldiers and horses would be a good match and approached Columbia with the idea. So far the organization has spent $1 million for the study and hopes to raise an additional $600,000 to $700,000 in donations by the end of the year, said Anne Poulson, its president. If it is successful, she said, “the hope would be to take the program to a national level,” eventually seeking grants and funding through the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Veterans Administration.”
Earle Mack Defends Keeping the Charitable Deduction
From:Earle I. Mack Written Testimony in Support of Charitable Deductions: House Committee on Ways and Means Hearing on Tax Reform and Charitable Deductions
Bloodhorse.com
January 20, 2010
EXCERPT: “But I am here today as a private citizen, someone who has been fortunate enough to be able to give millions of dollars to charity over the years. And I am here to tell you that if the charitable deduction is reduced or capped, I, and people like me, won’t be giving as much as we do now. It’s not that we donate to charities of all kinds because of the deduction; we give where we see the need because it’s the right thing to do. But it’s inherent to human nature that we usually need a gentle tap, to make it at least somewhat in our own self-interest to do the right thing. You can take my word for that, but you don’t have to.
At least one study, reported in the October 2, 2011 Chronicle of Philanthropy bears me out. One conclusion reached by two professors who published the study in June of that year was this:
“. . . all else being equal, if the tax savings for giving another dollar to charity goes up one cent, donors will increase their contributions by a bit more than 1 percent. And they will trim their giving by a similar amount if their tax savings fall. Put another way: If a donor gets a 35-percent tax break for her gift, she will donate about 35 percent more than she would have with no tax incentive.”
Finish the article on Earle Mack defending the charitable donation.
Earle Mack Expedites Medical Relief To Haiti
From: Horse Owner Mack Helps With Haiti Effort
Bloodhorse.com
January 20, 2010
EXCERPT: “As Thoroughbred owner/breeder Earle I. Mack saw and read reports about the difficulty of the relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that killed an estimated 200,000 people, he felt a call to action.
He knew that getting supplies and medical personnel into the country, and then immediately dispersing them to where they were needed was nearly impossible considering the devastation throughout the country. What was most noticeable to Mack was the inability for much progress to be made, considering transportation routes were impacted by the quake’s damage and most of the hospitals serving the major city of Port-au-Prince were severely damaged…”
Finish the article on Earle I Mack’s assistance to the Haitian people.
Earle Mack As The Former Chairman Of Cardoza Appointed To Ambassador Of Finland
From: President Bush Names Earle Mack Ambassador to Finland
Board News from Cardoza Life
EXCERPT: “…Former Cardozo Board Chairman Earle I. Mack has been appointed Ambassador to Finland by President George W. Bush.
He was sworn in as Ambassador on May 28, and presented his credentials to the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, on June 10, 2004.
Mr. Mack is the third former Cardozo Board member to hold the rank of Ambassador. Cardozo’s first chairman, Morris Abram, was Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva under President George H.W. Bush and Eric M. Javits is US Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament, a position he has held for several years.
When Mr. Mack passed the gavel to new Board Chair Kathy Greenberg, he ended a stellar tenure that covered more than 20 years as a Board member, 12 of them as chair. Mr. Mack said, “This does not mark the end of my love for this great school.”
Ambassador Mack was elected to the Cardozo Board in 1980 and was voted chair in 1992, a position he held until his appointment as Ambassador. Among his many achievements as chairman, he indicated he was most proud of “the election for the first time of a chair from the ranks of the Cardozo alumni.” Ambassador Mack oversaw the renovation of 55 Fifth, assisted with scholarships, and provided funds for numerous projects and events at Cardozo from the redesign of the Web site to bringing King Juan Carlos of Spain to the Law School.
Finish the article on Earle I. Mack’s appointment to Ambassador in the Board News for Cardoza.
Earle Mack Appointed To The Board Of The Prostate Cancer Foundation
From: The Prostate Cancer Foundation Appoints Two New Board Members
The Prostate Cancer Foundation
April 5, 2006
EXCERPT: “…Former Ambassador to Finland and biotech chief executive join the board of the world’s largest source of support for prostate cancer research.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., – April 5, 2006 – The Prostate Cancer Foundation has announced the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors: former Ambassador Earle I. Mack, senior partner of The Mack Company, and Henry L. Nordhoff, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Gen-Probe Incorporated. Mack rejoined the Board following his service as the United States Ambassador to Finland.
“The Prostate Cancer Foundation is adding valuable new expertise to our Board with the inclusion of Earle Mack and Henry Nordhoff,” said Leslie D. Michelson, chief executive officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “Each member brings a unique perspective to our mission of finding better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer, and we look forward to benefiting from their considerable expertise.”…”
Drexel Law School Named After Earle I. Mack Following Donation
From: Drexel’s law school gets a big gift and a name: The school will be named for businessman Earle Mack, who gave $15 million
Trading Stocks
April 30, 2008
EXCERPT: “Apr 30, 2008 (The Philadelphia Inquirer – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) — — Drexel University’s law school, which opened in August 2006, is finally getting a name, courtesy of a $15 million donation from philanthropist and former U.S. ambassador Earle Mack.
“The Earle Mack School of Law will get its new moniker in a notable-filled ceremony tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at the school, on Market between 33d and 34th Streets.
“Gov. Rendell, former New York Gov. George Pataki, and John R. Drexel IV, a direct descendent of university founder Anthony J. Drexel, will join Mack in toasting the newly named school.
“Mack’s gift will be matched by $15 million from Drexel and donors. The businessman, arts advocate, and former ambassador to Finland is a 1959 graduate of the university…”
Finish the article on Earle I Mack’s donation at Trading Stocks.
Earle Mack Facilitates International Surgical Mission Support Mission To Haiti
From: Meeker: Earle Mack made Haiti mission possible
Courier-Journal.com (Louisville, KY – Southern Indiana)
February 1, 2010
EXCERPT: “Tom Meeker is back from Haiti, where he aided a New York-based surgical team on a humanitarian mission. He called me to make a point:
“The racing community should be very proud of Earle Mack.”
Mack is the prominent horse owner, developer, philanthropist and former ambassador to Finland who not only got Meeker’s team into Haiti but out of the devastated country as well this past Friday — all 17 of the crew, plus the 1,500 pounds of equipment they had brought with them.
Meeker, the retired president of Churchill Downs Inc., said the ISMS team is just one of a myriad of Haiti rescue missions Mack has assisted.
“He’s on the phone day and night,” he said. “My job with this team was to sort of coordinate the logistics, working there to get patients out to the Comfort (naval medical ship) who needed advanced medical care. Just doing anything and everything. But one of the days I went down to the airport, from one end to the other, and they had United Nations, USA, State Department, Army, U.S. Air Force, Canadians, a myriad of different people spread out….”
Finish the article on Earle I Mack’s contribution to the International Surgical Mission Support.