~Honoring Vicky & Eric Busch of Louisiana, and Amal Murgian of California~
Brooke USA is pleased to announce that longtime mission supporters and animal advocates, Vicky and Eric Bush of Folsom, LA, and Amal Murgian of San Francisco, CA, were recently honored with the organization’s Crystal Award.
Emily Dulin, CEO of Brooke USA, traveled to present the award in person. “I am always in awe of the extraordinary people who support our organization. They understand the interrelationship between working horses, donkeys and mules, and their owners. They know that by helping working equines, we are helping the people who depend on them for survival.”
The Crystal Award is Brooke USA’s most prestigious accolade. It recognizes outstanding champions of the organization who have gone above and beyond in support of its mission to significantly improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys, mules, and the people they serve in the developing world. The individuals honored demonstrate a deep love and commitment to Brooke USA.
“The Crystal Award allows us to pay tribute to those individuals who have made an enormous difference in advancing our mission. Vicky and Eric, and Amal have been instrumental to our organizational growth, especially these last few years when the fundraising landscape is so difficult and complicated for animal welfare organizations,” said Brooke USA Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Jim Hamilton.
Vicky is the owner of Busch Sporthorses, where she trains, teaches, and breeds for dressage. A FEI/Grand Prix/Gold Medal Rider, trainer and competitor, Vicky has a passion for education and a desire to share that knowledge with her students. A Board-Certified Anesthesiologist with Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Eric helps his wife whenever his busy schedule permits. Together, they are the proud parents of Assassin, AKA Slate, Brooke USA’s very own mule ambassador who with his charm and natural charisma helps bring awareness for the plight of millions working equines.
Vicky recently noted that “there is nothing more satisfying than to know that our donations and Assassin’s volunteer work are having a major impact on the lives of those who need it most in some of the poorest communities on earth.”
Amal is no stranger to Brooke USA’s work having been educated in the United Kingdom where Brooke, Brooke USA’s sister organization, has a strong “hoofprint” and the charity’s work is highly recognized. Moreover, Amal is a native of Kenya where Brooke and Brooke USA invest significant funds to improve the welfare of working equines and the livelihoods of people.
Amal has made a career in management consulting and finance and has a longstanding involvement with philanthropic work in the United States and Africa. With her family, Amal supports numerous organizations seeking to ensure economic sustainability for people in Africa, especially women and girls, and most recently, Amal was named Chair of the Africa Board of Ripple Effect, an organization that fights poverty and builds sustainable livelihoods in eastern Africa.
“Working equines are the engines that mobilize the developing world. They fetch water at remote rivers, transport produce to sell at local markets and take children to school. These animals are essential to those living in poverty. Funding projects that are making a difference among those who need it most gives me great joy and a true sense of accomplishment,” explained Amal when accepting the award, which was presented by 2022 Crystal Award recipient, Melissa Klaerner, also a San Francisco resident and supporter of Brooke USA.
Vicky and Eric Busch and Amal Murgian join Margaret Hamilton Duprey, Katherine Kaneb, and Claudine and Fritz Kundrun who received the award in 2019; Antonia Axön Johnson, Richard Schechter, and Hazel and Richard Schultz who received the award in 2020; Alexander Hamer, Moti Ferder of Lugano Diamonds, and Melissa and Gerrit Klaerner who received the award in 2021, and Talmadge and Ian Silversides who received the award in 2022. The efforts of all these outstanding people help make a true difference by alleviating the suffering of some of the 100 million equines working in the developing world that support the livelihoods of 600 million people.
About Brooke USA: The mission of Broke USA is to significantly improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules, and the people they serve throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas and the Caribbean by raising funds and responsibly directing them to the areas of greatest need.
Brooke USA does this through a holistic approach to funding which includes capacity building, sustainability programming, female empowerment, and international advocacy. Brooke USA connects private philanthropists with their passion for helping relieve the suffering of working equines and their owners.
For more information, contact:
Emily Dulin
305-505-6170
Emily.Dulin@BrookeUSA.org
Kendall Bierer
561-309-9873
Kendall.Bierer@BrookeUSA.org