Davy Jones' love of horses and his fans' wish to pay tribute to his memory has led to the establishment of a new non-profit foundation dedicated to their care, his family announced Tuesday.
The Davy Jones Equine Memorial Foundation (DJEMF), established in honor of the first anniversary of his death on February 29, 2012, was in response to the huge number of requests from his fans internationally for a way to celebrate his life and talent, the family said in making the announcement.
"Our family is greatly appreciative of fans' desire to create a lasting tribute to him, said daughter Talia Jones, president of the DJEMF. “Creating the DJEMF to care for his horses for life is an enormous commitment and would make him very happy. We're working closely with his fans to make sure they're part of the process and can determine how they'd like to participate. Micky (Dolenz) and Peter (Tork) and a handful of wonderful friends have also given us invaluable help and support."
Jones and another of Davy's daughters, Jessica Cramer Jones, both accomplished horsewomen themselves, and Sarah Jones McFadden and Annabel Jones, impassioned horse advocates, together established the foundation for the immediate care and lifetime protection of the horses Jones loved to honor Jones' lifelong passion for the care of and commitment to horses. Jones' daughters have already moved his herd of 14 horses from his home in Florida to Santa Barbara, Calif., where they can help care for the horses themselves.
Before his death, Davy Jones had many charitable plans for the future, including transforming a church he owned in Beavertown, PA., into a memorabilia museum and community theatre center. Jones owned a home and horse farm there, where he lived as an active community member for over 25 years. On June 15 of this year, Beavertown officials will unveil a statue honoring Jones.
Monkees Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith supported the creation of the DJEMF initially through a private memorial benefit for Jones.
Another major first anniversary tribute and benefit will be the David T. Jones/Monkees Memorial Convention, March 1-3, in Rutherford, N.J. Performers honoring Jones will include Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork, Christian Nesmith, Michael's son, David Cassidy, Deana Martin, and Monkees producer Bob Rafelson, who also produced some of Jack Nicholson's biggest films, the cast of “The Brady Bunch,” Monkees' historians, as well as all four Jones' daughters, among others.
Other tributes include a benefit concert in New York City featuring Dolenz and Tork and a lifetime achievement award from the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association honoring Jones' long career in show business.
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