Wozniak to appeal for horse donations

PHOTOGRAPHER: Justin Mason

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Woz is coming back and he’s got charity on his mind.

Apple Computers co-founder Steven Wozniak has scheduled a pair of appearances in the Capital Region next week, including a fundraiser at Proctors to raise money for Peaceful Acres, the Pattersonville farm dedicated to rescuing horses for therapeutic purposes. The Silicon Valley luminary and philanthropist will precede his appearance in Schenectady with a panel discussion about the future of Tech Valley at GlobalFoundries in Malta.

Wozniak will appear with up-and-coming Canadian singer Ariana Gillis during a fundraiser scheduled for the GE Theater on Sept. 6. He is expected to give a short speech during the event, but will stay on hand to talk with people in the crowd about the farm’s mission using rescued horses for therapeutic and educational purposes.

“He certainly has a strong composition in and belief in animal welfare, but also in education,” said Nanci Beyerl, the farm’s founder.

Wozniak — affectionately nicknamed ‘Woz’ — last visited the Capital Region in June after helping save a draft horse scheduled to be slaughtered. Peaceful Acres volunteer John Scheib befriended Wozniak after the computer innovator was inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame 12 years ago and later urged him to get involved with the farm.

That involvement came in the form of a donation that was given to Peaceful Acres via PayPal. The money was then used to save a draft horse and another horse slated to be sold for slaughter.

The 20-year-old draft horse was later named ‘Woz’ in Wozniak’s honor. The animal was in very poor health when it initially came to Peaceful Acres, but has since rebounded.

“He’s in a pasture with his other herd mates,” Beyerl said Monday. “His respirator issues have reversed and he’s doing very well.”

Wozniak decided to help the farm raise money for its operations following his visit. Scheib said his friend also mentioned his newfound affinity for the music of Gillis, a 21-year-old folk singer from Ontario who has been drawing attention on the music scene.

“He turned us on to her,” he said.

The event at Proctors will feature light fare and a cash bar. Tickets to the 21⁄2 hour event are on sale for $60.

Prior to arriving in Schenectady, Wozniak will join fiber optics co-inventor Peter Schultz to discuss innovation and technology development in Tech Valley. The focus will be on driving economic growth and jobs for the next two decades, according to the event being sponsored by the Business Review.

Tickets for the GlobalFoundries discussion are on sale for $75, with proceeds going to a local charity of Wozniak’s choice. Students can receive a discounted rate of $25 for the event.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the Proctors event, visit peacefulacreshorses.eventbrite.com. Registration for the GlobalFoundries event is available by contacting Kate Fruscione at [email protected]