Charity Partners

In keeping with its tradition of distributing donations among a diverse group of charities, Smoky Mountain Rodeo Association has selected the following Charity Partners for 2008:

Angel Heart Farm, Inc. The mission of Angel Heart Farm, Inc. is to provide a safe environment for animal therapy to improve the "quality of life" for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Working with horses empowers these children to be pro-active caregivers as opposed to the role enforced on them by their illness as a powerless, reactive, care recipient.

The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation. The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit public charity committed to funding programs that provide the greatest benefit to cancer patients and their families. By supporting new programs in cancer research, education, and patient and family services, they honor the memory of Sarah Cannon, a cancer patient herself, who created the beloved character quot;Minnie Pearl."