Since 1981 when The Hoopes-Addis Education Trust was founded as a non-profit entity with 501(c)(3) status allowing gifts to be tax deductible, the Trust has financially supported carriage driving educational activities – clinics, brochures, grants supporting the distribution of educational materials at Expos, youth clinics, training programs for those selected to represent the United States in International Combined Driving Events and the development of educational materials. While The Hoopes-Addis Education Trust and The American Driving Society, Inc. (aka ADS) are totally separate entities, they have worked closely together. In 2004 The American Driving Society, Inc. received their IRS 501(c)(3) status enabling them to receive tax deductible gifts. They formed “The Fund” and began soliciting and financially supporting these same type activities. ADS has a definite advantage inasmuch as they are not restricted to supporting only educational projects as is the Trust.

It is time the Trust redirects its efforts and at the same time continues to strongly support the education of the driver and the horse. The Trust received a very generous gift from the Louisa N. Plummer Estate. Louisa had a passion for driving. She could always be found at a show driving her single, pair or four in hand. She would be surrounded by Delaware Valley College driving students whom she immensely enjoyed. The Trustees feel the best way to assure that hers and other gifts received are used strictly for education is to partner with the Driving Program within the Equine Studies Department at Delaware Valley College. Funds on hand together with the gift from Louisa have been invested and the earnings will go toward endowing the Equine Studies Department Driving Instructor’s position at Delaware Valley College.

Delaware Valley College located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania is the first agriculture college in the United States. It has the distinction of being named one of the top colleges in the North and Northeast by both the Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. The college is currently taking the steps necessary to become a University, expecting to complete the process by the end of 2014. Other colleges do provide carriage driving classes, but to the best of the Trust’s knowledge, Delaware Valley College is the only one requiring carriage driving as a prerequisite to graduation for Equine Study students.

The Hoopes-AddisTrustees unanimously support this decision. We are excited to be able to support students who are interested in driving and expect to see them participating in the sport from recreational driving to the most competitive challenges of our sport. With our support, the College has upgraded the driving instructor position from being an adjunct position to being a full time faculty position thereby demonstrating their enthusiasm for the sport. There are several well respected Delaware Valley College graduates currently working, competing, instructing, training and judging in the sport of carriage driving.

The Trust will continue to raise funds to enable it to expand educational opportunities for the carriage driving community.

The Hoopes-Addis Educational Trust Trustees P. O. Box 56, Plumsteadville, PA 18949

hoopesaddiseducationtrust@verizon.net