Thoroughbred Spirit

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Picture of first
bicycles
purchased for
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Thoroughbred Spirit

What is the Thoroughbred Spirit?

Gloria says:
The Thoroughbred Spirit to me is an inner-most spiritual quality of one who has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and, in spite of every obstacle, reached back to help others. One who has the Thoroughbred Spirit exhibits most, or all, of the following characteristics:

High-spirited	Dependable	Independent	Confident	Patient	Passionate
Kind	Persevering	Strong	Friendly	Generous	Survivor
Sensitive	Respectful	Fighter	Compassionate	Thoughtful	Winner

The Thoroughbred Spirit idea was greatly inspired by the loving label my father gave me as a little girl. I was his Li'l Thoroughbred. And I wrote about it in my book.

Moved by the childhood story of two beautiful thoroughbred racehorses told to her and her little sister by their father, a basically decent man tormented most of his life by the ravages of alcohol addiction, young Tenya Jackson tells of the gift he gave her before he died -- the notion that she was his "Li'l Thoroughbred." How this signals to her, a lonely, love-starved, insecure, and confused child that, in spite of her doubts, she is very special to him. She tells of the tragic life of her father, a dreamer, a lover of horses, music and dance, and an alcoholic. And she shares the plight of her frustrated and disillusioned young mother, her younger blind sister, and two younger brothers, living in abject poverty and despair, until the choice to fight and rise above it is finally made.

One day, I sat down and made a list of as many people as I could think of who have the Thoroughbred Spirit, and who have inspired me to be the best that I can be. Each of these kind souls have touched my life in a significant way and made a difference (see Inspirations)

Do yourself a favor. Take time to remember all the Thoroughbred Spirits you know of who have overcome hardships, made it, and reached back to help others. Make a list of all the Thoroughbred Spirits who have inspired you, and made a difference in your life.

The Thoroughbred Spirit Circle

The Thoroughbred Spirit Circle is growing. All that it takes to join this special group is for you to have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your life, and to have reached back to help others in need. The Thoroughbred Spirit Circle consists of people who are committed to giving back in order to bring hope and happiness to the less fortunate among us. Our mantra is: We've come up hard. We've made it. And we're giving back! We are Genuine Thoroughbred Spirits.

If you did not come up hard, but you have achieved much, have a giving spirit and are willing to support the efforts of the G&E Hill Foundation either by making a donation of as little as $50 or more, or by purchasing at least $50 worth of items listed for sale on the Merchandise page, your name will be added to the Thoroughbred Spirit Circle in red letters, making you an Honorary Thoroughbred Spirit.

Muhammad Ali
Ernestine Allen

Hallie Allen

Dr. Maya Angelo

Rev. T. A. Arguelles

Michael Baisden
Ben & Thelma Bates
Edith & Yancy Bates

Willie & Barbara Bates
Yancy Bates, Jr.

Sharon Baylis
Joshua & Laura Bessicks, Sr.

Joshua & Linda Bessicks, Jr.
Lois M. Bias

Bessie Black

Dr. Gregory Branch

Elliot Bratton

Charlie Benjamin

Tria Boatwright
Victor Boatwright

Rev. Dorothy Borum

Jean Bourne
Alana M. Brown
Annetta A. Brown
Gloria Brown

James Brown

Jessie L. Brown
Jimmy Brown
Phyllis A. Brown
Rev. Barbara Bulware

Aaron Burrell
Candace Burrell
Courtney Burrell
Patricia Burrell
Zelma Butler

Lois Haley Butts
Elease "Pidge" Cain

Allen & Margie Caldwell
Dr. Benjamin Carson

Dr. Harold Carter

Dr. J. L. Carter

Clifton Chandler

Vincent & Yvonne Clark

Roy & Willia M. Coleman
Willie Roy & Marsha Coleman
Sean Diddy Combs

Vivian E. Cook
Bill Cosby
Camille Cosby
Ennis Cosby

Vanessa Curry

Mildred Crowder
Kim Vien Dang

Rev. Roosevelt Davenport

Caroline Davis

Ellen DeGeneres

Felecia Diggs
Frederick Douglass

Eugenia Drye

Maggie Edwards

Rev. David Erickson

Dr. Rick Erwin

Fay Evans

Denise Ferguson

Rev. Bruce Foster

Teresa G. Foster

Rev. Charles M. Franklin, Jr.
Dr. Charles M. Franklin, Sr.
Daisy Franklin

Bishop Larry Frazier, Sr.
Bea Gaddy

Chris Gardner
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph S. Geffrard

Kenneth Gladden
Betty J. Glascoe

Elizabeth B. Glymph

J.C. Glymph

Johnny Glymph

Mary Ellen Goldsborough

Wilhelmina Goldsborough
L. Gordon

Juan Graham

Maryetta Graham

Patricia Green
Art Griffin

Valerie & Michael Gunn
Alex Haley
Beverly Hall
Jannie & Louis Hall
Tamu Habiibullah

Gladys Hardy

Rev. Denis J. Harlow

Rev. William E. Hayman, Jr.

Bishop J. Neaul Haynes

Julius Henson

Izaac Hester

Agnes Hill
Allan Hill
Audrey Hill
Candace Hill
Joan T. Hill
Keith Hill
Kendra Hill
Kevin Hill
Kim Hill
Oliver Hill

Tony Hill
Wendy Hill

Thomasita Holland

Julius Hudson

Ruben Santiago Hudson

Cathy Hughes

Candi Humphrey
Jeannie Huynh
Julian Huynh
Bishop Alfred & Gladys Jackson

Cora Jackson
Rev. Corey Jackson

Frank Jackson
Ivan Jackson
Kai Jackson

Bonnie & Joseph Jefferson

Rev. Clifford M. Johnson, Jr.

Bishop Clifford M. Johnson, Sr.

Florence Johnson

Ernestine Jones

Mildred Kelly
Gayle King
Michael King

Rev. Harold Knight
Beyonce Knowles

Vivian A. Lakes
Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb
Clara Leatherbury
Robert E. Lee
Dollie Little

Barbara Lloyd

Mother Malone
Dr. Joanne Martin
Magnolia & Buddy Means
Dr. John C. Merritt
Kweisi Mfume

Sheila Mitz
Rev. Patrick Mockler

Frances B. Monroe
David L. Moore
Dr. Basil Morgan
Catherine A. Neal
Paul & Joanne W. Newman
Jenny Nguyen

President Barack & Michelle Obama
Anna Parrish
Sondra & Lester Pearson

Fred & Lois Peoples
John & Lucille Peoples
Robert & Bessie Peoples
Robert & Sarah Peoples
Theodore & Darlene Peoples
Tyler Perry
Caroline B. Phillips

Paul Pisarski
Regina Pollitt
Sidney Poitier
Joan M. Pratt

Bonnie & Charles Pullen
Julia Randall

Ruth & Dallas Reed

Dr. Frank M. Reid, III

Christine Regusters
Shirley Roles

Carlos Santana

Diane Sawyer

Marie S. Schwartzenegger
Stanley "Dusty" Scurry

Martha Seabrooks

Troy Serisis
Annette Sharp

Michelle Sharp
Angela Shelton
James Shelton
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Sargent Shriver
Gus & Joanne Simpson

Dr. P.M. Smith
Jerry Stamper

Robert Stastny
Mattie Stepanek
Glenda Stephenson

Rev. Donald Sterling

Stan Stovall
Calvin Taylor
Bishop Walter S. Thomas, Sr.

Anthony Thompson, Sr.
Clyde & Lucille Thompson
Eunice Shelton Thompson
Frank Thompson
Frankie Thompson
James Thompson, Jr.
James Thompson, Sr.
Janet Kim Thompson

Rev. Larry & Lois Thompson
Larry Thompson, Sr.
Lois Thompson
Marie Thompson
Mary Thompson

Mary Ellen Thompson

Nancina Thompson

Natalie Thompson
Ray Thompson
Renee Thompson
Romeo & Minnie Thompson
Sadie Thompson
Tommy Lee Thompson, Jr.
Tommy Lee Thompson, Sr.
Tavin & Michelle Thompson
Tracy Thompson

Vivian Thompson-Williams
DeViolet Thrash

Felicia Y. Trower

EddrenaTruly
Harriet Tubman
Betty J. & Larry Tucker

Rev. Norris Turner

Pauline "Polly" Vain
Laura Wallace
Donald Wallace

Timia Whittaker

George Wilbourne

Doris G. Williams

Evelyn Williams

Kenyetta Williams
Dr. Barbara Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey
Vernon Winfrey

Dolores L. Winston
Fred & Dorothy Woodard
Jessie & Roland Woodard

Alana Wright

Letitia Wright

Steve Wynn
Tommy Scott Young
Nancy Lee Young
Dr. Donald Zack
Dr. Kang Zhang