Costello: Scholarships a Fitting Tribute to Dilger’s Example

[Wandering Eyes]

It didn’t take long after the tragic news of Gerry Dilger’s passing on Wednesday morning for his friends to decide upon the most fitting way to honor his memory: a continuing commitment to the education of young people in the Thoroughbred industry. Pat Costello said that discussions started at noon Thursday as the brainchild of Robbie Lyons and Lesley Campion in the Paramount Sales office and by 2 p.m., a Gofundme page was up and running.

By Friday afternoon, the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation had raised over $87,000.

   “In keeping with Gerry’s vision of helping young people in the industry, we felt it was a fitting tribute to establish equine scholarships in his name,” said Costello. “Every year, Gerry employed three to four young students and taught them and encouraged them like they were his own children. When they finished the term with him, they were well-rounded young horsemen and women and lifelong friends, with tremendous respect and love for Gerry. These scholarships will provide a financial contribution for students to assist them on their path into the horse industry and keep Gerry’s work alive.”

Costello said that dozens of Dilger’s friends participated in the meeting Thursday, and offered their help and support, including The Green Group, who will prepare and file the paperwork required to establish the charity’s 501(c)3 status.

“We’re in the baby steps of it,” said Costello, who said that the outpouring of support had been such that, “it might have to have a bigger vision than we initially thought.” The organizers initially envisioned an annual scholarship to the Irish National Stud as Gerry was a graduate of the world-famous course, but seeing the amount of funds being raised, they said they now intend to award a scholarship to a KEMI student also, giving opportunities to young horsemen and women on both sides of the Atlantic. “We are overwhelmed with the generosity of all those who have donated and we are hugely grateful,” said Costell. “It is a testament to the life of Gerry Dilger and his reputation. His lifelong generosity is being deservedly reciprocated and we are proud to facilitate that. It is in its infancy, and could go on to be something bigger, depending upon the funds that come in.”

“We want to do the right thing by the foundation,” said Costello. “We have a board of directors and Erin (Dilger) and her daughter, Claire, are going to be on the board. We are recruiting some top industry people to help with this, and we’ll keep Gerry’s name alive.

“He was such a legend. Such a character. For the past two days, I have been trying to think of the perfect word to describe him, and it’s passion. Passion for life, passion for his family, passion for his friends.”

Click here to make a donation on the Gofundme page, or send a check payable to The Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation to: Paramount Sales, 449 Lewis Hargett Circle, Ste 190, Lexington, KY 40503.

 

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