FOLEY — It’s once again time to saddle up in the Forward City as the Jennifer Clair Moore Foundation is set to present its 15th annual Professional Rodeo and Fundraiser.

The three-day event will gallop into the City of Foley Horse Arena Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each evening will kick off at 7 o’clock with pre-rodeo activities, followed by the rodeo at 8 o’clock.

According to Foundation Executive Director Laura Elhert, the action-packed event has a reputation of drawing a crowd.

“Last year, we had around 8,000 attending over the three-day period,” she said in a phone interview.

That includes visitors from throughout the South making a descent on Foley.

And why not? It’s quite a spectator sport.

“We have 400 cowboys and cowgirls competing,” Elhert said.

Those competitions include barrel racing, bareback riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and break-away roping, as well as additional events.

Started in 1997, this week’s rodeo is a fundraiser that benefits the Jennnifer Claire Moore Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides peer-to-peer training and support throughout Baldwin County schools.

“We have over 500 peer helpers,” Elhert said.

She explained that the organization’s most recent project addresses an issue that has an impact in communities throughout the nation.

“This year, the high school peer helpers at Foley High participated in an anti-bullying summit,” Ehert said. “They presented those programs to 11,000 children.”

She added that the next step is to bring that program to students across Baldwin County.

Another program is Stop the Drop, which works to prevent students from dropping out of high school.

“We’ve had a 93 percent success rate,” Elhert said.

That’s in addition to efforts to pair older students with younger ones in a mentoring and tutoring program.

According to Elhert, 15 years and public contributions have enabled the Foundation to expand beyond its origin.

“The initial focus was suicide prevention,” she said.

Expansion has been made possible by funds garnered from such benefits as this week’s rodeo. And Elhert said something different will be offered each night.

“Thursday is Hometown Heroes Night,” she said, explaining that the evening will be dedicated to the military.

Then Friday is “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night.

“And Saturday is School Spirit Night,” Elhert said. “That’s new.”

She explained that the final night of the rodeo enables students to gear up for the upcoming school year by sporting their school colors.

Elhert anticipates that this week will provide another successful fundraiser.

“The Foundation appreciates the community’s support so much,” she said. “Their support directly affects students of Baldwin County.”

For more information about this week’s rodeo or the Jennifer Clair Moore Foundation, call 251-971-3633 or visit www.jennifermoorefoundation.com.