Philadelphia, Pa. – April 2, 2021 – This Friday marks the premiere of Netflix’s newest film Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin. The film showcases the Black urban cowboys in the city of Philadelphia, and in 2019 the producers and directors of the film helped form the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy (PURA) to preserve the life, legacy and culture of Black urban cowboys in the city of Philadelphia. PURA recently launched the “Fresh Start for Philly Youth” fundraising campaign through GoFundMe. The campaign’s goal is to raise money for its new facility in downtown Philadelphia that will provide a unique space for children, teens and adults to experience horses up close and personal.
PURA’s executive director Erin Brown joined forces with North Run’s Missy Clark in June of 2020 to create Concrete to Show Jumping. With a mission to open doors to diversified worlds within the horse industry, Concrete to Show Jumping aims to open the eyes, minds and hearts of equestrians by participating in new experiences, forming new alliances and building friendships with equestrians from diversified backgrounds.
The “Fresh Start for Philly Youth” fundraiser has the goal of raising $2,000,000 for PURA’s new permanent facility, This home will provide stabling for 20-25 horses, paddocks, an indoor and an outdoor arena, as well as recreational space for other youth and veteran programs. With the help of the entire equestrian community, PURA and Concrete to Show Jumping believe that this goal is attainable. Every dollar raised will be put towards the facility and the horses and students that will call it home.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, PURA is now collecting donations for the “Fresh Start for Philly Youth” initiative. All donations are tax-deductible and corporate sponsors are encouraged to donate, with naming rights to the rings, paddocks, stalls and lounge are available. Every dollar raised will be put towards the facility and the horses and students who will call it home. PURA has joined forces with Spak Group, a real estate Development Company, along with Architects from OZ Collaborative and a Landscape Civil Engineer, Ruggiero Plante, LLC. to create a forever home for youth, the community and the Urban Black Cowboy.
Concrete to Show Jumping aims to open the eyes, minds and hearts of more people by participating in new experiences, forming new alliances and building friendships with equestrians from diversified backgrounds.
For more information please visit thepura.org or donate here to be a part of PURA’s mission to preserve the life, legacy, and culture of Black urban cowboys in the city of Philadelphia.