Yvonne Losos de Muñiz to Lead JustWorld Dressage Program

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – JustWorld International has expanded into the world of dressage with Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic leading the Dressage Rider Ambassadors.

Having experienced an overwhelming response to the JustWorld Rider Ambassador program, which was created in 2003 and currently counts 86 professional and junior/amateur show jumping riders representing more than 20 countries amongst its ranks, JustWorld is responding to requests to branch out into the equestrian discipline of dressage. Two-time Pan American Games Individual Dressage Bronze Medalist, Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic, will join other such high-profile show jumping athletes as Markus Fuchs, Eric Lamaze, Candice King and Herve Godignon in promoting JustWorld International, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the developing world.

Being a JustWorld Rider Ambassador is of special importance to Yvonne Losos de Muñiz who is based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. When the 2003 Pan American Games were hosted by her hometown in 2003, she trained the team which finished a close fourth while she claimed the Individual Bronze Medal, the first Pan Am medal ever won in equestrian sport by a Dominican athlete. This past July at the 2007 Pan Am Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she repeated her feat by winning her second consecutive Individual Bronze Medal.

"I am extremely honored and proud to be named an ambassador for JustWorld International," said Losos de Muñiz. "Being born and spending a good part of my childhood in Africa and now living in the Dominican Republic, I am very aware of the many needs and hardships children of less developed countries face every day. If I am able to assist an organization such as JustWorld International in improving the lives of even a few of those children, I will have fulfilled a sense of duty I have always had towards them. We can never forget how hard life can be in these areas."

Joining Losos de Muñiz as the first dressage ambassadors are young riders Ashley Caparell and Sasha Holtzberg, both amateur competitors from the United States. While the dressage riders, due to dress restrictions, cannot wear the signature blue JustWorld jacket like their show jumping counterparts, they can still promote JustWorld by wearing clothing such as polo shirts and ball caps and also treat their horses to JustWorld blankets, scrim sheets and saddle pads.

"We have always had the vision of expanding JustWorld into other equestrian disciplines such as Dressage and Polo," explained Jessica Newman, Executive Director of JustWorld International. "We wanted to build a strong base in the show jumping world, which I myself grew up in, before expanding but now the time has come. We have some incredibly motivated and dedicated individuals such as Yvonne, Ashley and Sasha who are truly determined to expand JustWorld to the dressage community and give dressage riders the opportunity to become involved and support our humanitarian efforts."

JustWorld Rider Ambassadors give back to the organization in many ways. Some donate a portion of their prize money or give an annual donation while others hold clinics or other fundraising initiatives to benefit JustWorld International. Ambassadors have gone to speak to school children about the importance of JustWorld's work while others interact with the public through autograph signing sessions held at horse shows around the world. Inspiring others to make choices and take action to benefit those less fortunate is the most important role that JustWorld Rider Ambassadors play. As its core objective, JustWorld seeks to bring together the equestrian community with the goal of improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the developing world.

Another special part of being involved with JustWorld International is having the opportunity to visit its project sites and witnessing, first-hand, the children who are benefiting from the programs that JustWorld has put in place. Currently, there are JustWorld project sites in Honduras, Cambodia, Kenya, Senegal and Brazil with a new initiative underway in Mexico.

Founded in 2002 by former grand prix show jumping competitor Jessica Newman, JustWorld International raises awareness and funds in the equestrian community to support humanitarian projects that benefit impoverished communities and children in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive education, health and vocational projects. For more information on JustWorld International and its upcoming fundraising events, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.

PHOTOGRAPH: Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic is a Dressage Rider Ambassador for JustWorld International. Photo Credit - Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com