OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Brandon and Diannah Perry have made a huge impact on the community by dedicating themselves to helping others.

The Ocala residents are now receiving national recognition for their generosity and leadership. They have been named the recipients of the prestigious Allaire du Pont Leadership Award by the Thoroughbred Charities of America. The Perrys will accept the award on Jan. 12, 2025, in Lexington, KY, during the 35th Annual Stallion Season Live Auction and Celebration, presented by the Mt. Brilliant Foundation.

The couple, who own NewGate Realty, were also honored locally last year as the 2024 Ocala/Marion County Philanthropists of the Year for their continued altruistic efforts.

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“It was certainly shocking being named the recipient of the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award, and we’re obviously very humbled and grateful for that,” says Brandon Perry. “It’s a tremendous honor.”

Previous recipients of the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award with local ties include Frank Stronach, Darley, Todd Pletcher and Barbara Banke.

“We were blown away as far as the company that we’re in,” says Diannah Perry. “We were so honored.”

A legacy of giving

In 2020, Cathy Perry, Brandon’s mother and Diannah’s mother-in-law, passed away, leaving a portion of her estate, the Cathy D. Perry Trust, to be donated to charitable organizations. However, the responsibility of selecting the recipients fell to Brandon and Diannah, who have prioritized animal welfare advocacy and other community needs.

The Perrys own Paragon Farm and have long been involved in the thoroughbred industry in both Ocala and Lexington. They have generously supported numerous thoroughbred charities, including Final Furlong, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and the Thoroughbred Charities of America.

“With our past history in the thoroughbred industry, starting in Ocala in the early 2000s, and then moving to Lexington for several years, we had a large breeding farm up there,” says Brandon Perry. “We raced and pinhooked and did almost everything you could do. We had horses in different Breeders’ Cup races and the Kentucky Derby (Visionaire, 2008). The thoroughbred portion was near and dear to our heart.”

Impacting Ocala and Marion County

Locally, the Perrys have supported a variety of organizations, including the Humane Society of Marion County, Sheltering Hands, Kimberly Center, Hospice of Marion County, Marion Therapeutic Riding Association, Horse Farms Forever, Interfaith, Junior League, Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the Ocala Royal Dames, of which Cathy Perry was a member.

“They’re all such great organizations, and there are so many more. There are hundreds of organizations, but we tried to pick ones that meant something to us,” said Perry. “We wanted to give a significant amount of money to try to make a difference.”

The impact of the Perrys’ generosity has been deeply felt throughout the community. Their donations have allowed the Humane Society of Marion County to construct a new building and provided the Royal Dames with the funding necessary to support a new cancer grant.