Great Charity Challenge
Measured community impact
About The Great Charity Challenge
Since 2009, the Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments® (GCC) has transformed lives across Palm Beach County. What began as a community response to the 2008 financial crisis has grown into one of the most anticipated family nights of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
To date, the GCC has distributed over $24 million to 370 local non-profits, ensuring lasting impact where it is needed most.
Equestrian Meets Philanthropy: The GCC is a relay-style equestrian jumping event where Olympic and world-class riders team up with junior and amateur athletes to compete for local charities. Every participating non-profit is guaranteed funding, with top prizes reaching $100,000.
Non-profit applications are now closed. To donate or sponsor, email [email protected].
To learn more about this event, click here .
Our Core Values
Professionalism
Impact-driven with measurable results.
Transparency
100% of donations go directly to charities; event costs are covered by Wellington International.
Impartiality
Non-profits areselected through a lottery system, broadcast live for full visibility.
Community
The event unites the equestrian and Palm Beach County communities to make a lasting difference.
2026 Event Information
Date: January 31, 2026
Goal: To distribute more than $2 million to Palm Beach County nonprofits in a single evening.
Theme: Rhyme Without Reason
Costumes and team representations will showcase trios of things that rhyme but that have absolutely nothing in common. Picture “a bee, a ski and a piece of brie” or “a cat, a hat and a bat”.
To learn about the impact of past events, click here.
Support the Great Charity Challenge
Make a Donation
Your support makes the GCC possible. Donations range from $5 to $200,000 and are 100% tax-deductible.
Donate NowBecome a Sponsor
Sponsors help distribute over $2 million in a single night, ensuring every dollar creates impact.
Become a SponsorGeneral GCC FAQs
Yes, thanks to the generous support of Wellington International.
Sign up to receive the 2025 GCC Volunteer Guide with opportunities to get involved here.
You can join has a team, corporate or grant sponsor or make a charitable donation via check (form) or online through the United Way of Palm Beach County* (available December through March).
You NEED our Word application form (automatic download). This form will give you a list of what is needed and requested during the application, give you the opportunity to fill in the answers at your own pace AND will enable you to copy/paste when the process officially opens.
Yes, you will be able to save your application and get back into it to finalize it. However, once you’ve clicked “submit”, no editing will be permitted.
Between Monday, September 29, 2025 and Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST. Please note that we are unable to accept any late entries.
Do the best that you can and see which category best represents your activities. If the review board has any questions on your decision, we will be sure to reach out to you! And if you are completely stuck and unsure on how to answer, please email [email protected] by no later than Friday, October 10, 2025 along with your organization website and we will do our very best to advise you.
For 2024: auditor compilation or year-end statement signed by board treasurer. For 2025: it can be either a P&L or Balance Sheet to date, signed by your board treasurer. Submissions must be PDF uploads and cannot exceed 10MB.
This requirement was instilled in 2020; our board and donors feel strongly that this should be a requirement. In the event you do not have one, we recommend you create one and get it validated by your board. If your organization cannot stand behind this requirement, we respect your decision but will sadly be unable to consider you for funding.
Please enter the number 1 in all salary requirement fields. IMPORTANT NOTE: contractors should also be considered here! If you hire contractors for specific needs (marketing, event, etc.), please list the amount you paid in 2024 for these positions.
You will receive an email confirming such as well as copy of your application. If you have tried absolutely everything and are still having issues in submitting your application, we kindly request that you send us your complete application and all its attachments via email to [email protected] by no later than Friday, October 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST (to give us the time to enter it manually).
Event FAQs
Admission to our event is free and no tickets are required. We hope you’ll bring the whole family or a car full of friends! We offer two parking options:
- Recommended: Free off-site parking is available at the Equestrian Village facility across the street at 13500 South Shore Blvd., Wellington, with a free shuttle to Wellington International (will start running at 5 PM).
- On-site parking at 3400 Equestrian Club Rd., Wellington, is a $25 charge per car-load. Please note that handicap parking is offered at no charge at 3400 Equestrian Club Rd.
Our gates “officially” open at 6 PM but please note that as this is our busiest night of season, we highly encourage you to get here early! You can walk around the Showgrounds leading up to the start of the activities. Shuttles will officially start running at 5 PM for visitors.
Our event typically ends between 8:45 PM and 9 PM
Horse shows at Wellington International are casual outdoor events. We recommend sensible walking shoes so that you are comfortable while exploring the showgrounds as well as dressing for the weather as we are an outdoor venue. If you are a participating charity, we encourage you to wear charity branded items so that we know who you are there representing! If you are joining us in the VIP, the suggested attire is smart casual.
Our events are rain or shine —some of the most exciting jumping competition is in the rain! We only cancel or postpone a competition if the weather risks personal safety. We will post updates on our social media pages and our website if there are last-minute cancellations, postponements, or other changes.
Yes! Bring the whole family. Kids will enjoy walking the grounds and seeing amazing costumes (both on the riders and horses!). Our Family Festival features activities such as face painting, circus performers, dance contests, t-shirt tosses, petting zoos, free rides on the carousel and lively music!
Yes! We invite you to view the map below; the Wellington Club and Gallery are all open to the public that evening.
We invite you to walk up to Wellington International’s iconic Rolex Bridge by following the path up through the spectator entrance and around the ring (hang a right at the fountain).
Yes, come hungry! Our food vendors are open and boast a diverse range of affordable dining options. Please note that no outside food or beverages are allowed on site.
We are fully sold out of VIP dining in the International Club.
All pre-selected non-profit organizations will have reserved and appointed seating in the “Box Seats”, situated along either side of the Rolex Bridge. Please note that the number indicated in the “Order of Go” for a specific participating organization is ALSO their box seat number.
We have surpassed our goal of raising and distributing $2 million in association with the 16th Annual Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments®! All additional grants and initiatives associated with the event will be done prior to the evening. In the event of excess funding received that evening and leading up to the event, additional grants will be awarded the week following the GCC (benefitting organizations will be notified via email and tagged on social media).
Thanks to Wellington International’s support, the GCC is able to operate at ZERO costs to the donors. This means that 100% of donations received go straight back to work in the community. For additional information, we invite you to visit: https://bit.ly/2025gcc
Yes, the event will be live-streamed for free here (insert WEF livestream page).
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