Help the Downtown District Name a Horse as Part of the Adopt-A-Horse Program

The Houston Downtown Management District today joined the Houston Police Department and the Houston Police Foundation as they announced the Mounted Patrol Sponsorship Program “Adopt-A-Horse.” The Downtown District will support the new program by sponsoring a horse in 2012.

 The Mounted Patrol unit currently consists of 31 horses and to help HPD continue to operate at this capacity, the department is seeking financial support from corporations, organizations and individuals to offset the cost of maintenance. A $5,000 sponsorship will cover all of the operating expenses for one horse for one year, with the sponsor having the opportunity to name their sponsored horse.

 “The District is proud to announce our sponsorship of one horse as we truly enjoy the presence of the Mounted Patrol in downtown and want to see this service continue for many, many years,” Bob Eury, executive director of the Downtown District, said. “The horses are beloved by the community, so what better way to choose a name than to ask Houstonians to suggest one! We will be accepting names via our Facebook page, with the name to be announced in February.”

 Submissions will be accepted until Jan. 27 and can be made via the Downtown District’s Facebook page (facebook.com/visitdowntownhouston). The person who submitted the selected name will not only have bragging rights for the year, but will also have his/her photo taken with the majestic animal.

 Mounted Patrol is responsible for enforcing laws and ordinances throughout the city of Houston and is often seen in the Central Business District, as well as Hermann and Memorial Parks. The unit has significantly contributed to improving the livability of these areas, is a critical component of police visibility and the best method of crowd control for festivals, parks and major sporting events.

 “This sponsorship program is a great way for HPD to partner with the Houston business community,” said HPD Mounted Patrol Lieutenant Randall Wallace.  “Our horses play a vital role in keeping citizens safe.  We appreciate the leadership role the Houston Downtown Management District has taken in this endeavor.”

 As well as naming the horse, sponsorship benefits include signage on the horse’s stall under the nameplate, recognition on the Mounted Patrol Web site and photos of the horse/sponsor/assigned officer for sponsor use. For more information, visit www.houstonpolicefoundation.org.

About Downtown District

The Houston Downtown Management District was formed in 1995 for the purpose of revitalizing the urban core of the country’s fourth largest city. Over the past decade, the Downtown District has used a combination of public funds and private resources to catalyze area improvements focusing on the city blocks bordered by Interstate 10, Highway 59, and Interstate 45. Since the Downtown District began operating in 1996, Downtown Houston has seen more than $4 billion of construction completed in over 110 public and private projects, the creation of 3.2 million square feet of new Class A office space, $500 million of infrastructure improvements, 3,000 new hotel rooms spanning 11 different projects, and a 250% increase in the population of permanent residents. For more information please call 713-650-3022 or visit Downtown District on the web at www.downtowndistrict.org or www.downtownhouston.org.

About Houston Police Foundation

The Houston Police Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to support the mission of the Houston Police Department.