Youth Foundation to honor Martin Scharf

Martin Scharf's generosity to harness racing through his Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship will be on display on Saturday night, Jan. 16, at the Meadowlands Racetrack, when he presents Maddie Dudka with a $15,000 check as the 2009/10 Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship recipient.

 

Then on Feb. 28 at Yonkers Raceway, during the annual U.S. Harness Writers Association banquet, Scharf will be recognized as the Harness Horse Youth Foundation Service To Youth Award recipient for 2009.

 

Five years ago Scharf decided he wanted to pay tribute to his champion pacer Gallo Blue Chip and, at the same time, help worthy students in the New York/New Jersey area who are sons and daughters of trainers and caretakers. He wanted to make a significant financial difference by providing assistance in the form of a scholarship while honoring his horse’s name. He called the HHYF office with questions on how to set up the logistics. By the end of the first conversation, the basic elements were in place.

 

Each year since, with award dollars in excess of $95,000, Scharf has been actively involved in scholarship process. He, along with the HHYF scholarship selection committee, eagerly reads the students’ information looking for the appropriate combination of academic potential, understanding of social responsibility, and financial need. He graciously hosts an evening at The Meadowlands for the recipient and his/her family and makes the check presentation, always beaming with an inner glow that he shows his commitment is genuine. Then, he cares enough to follow up, checking to ensure the student is working to his/her full capability.

 

Maddie Dudka was selected as the 2009/10 Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship recipient. She is from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and is the daughter of trainer Paul Dudka. Maddie recently completed her first semester with a 4.0 GPA at Russell Sage College, where she is studying nursing.

 

Maddie said in her essay included with the scholarship application, “I’ve never had a problem getting my hands dirty, and I love spontaneous situations that make you really think on your feet. Throw in a passion for biology and chemistry, and you’ve got the core principles of health care. I don’t see myself anywhere else but working in medicine.”

 

She was selected as one of 10 students from her area to participate in New Visions Health Careers Exploration during her senior year, a program she wanted to experience “before I went off to college and spent a lot of money.” She is currently exploring her options open before deciding the specific aspect of nursing in which she will eventually work. (Harness Horse Youth Foundation)