The genesis. The Seabiscuit program began with an email. On the day of Saddam Hussein's capture in December, 2003, Army Lt. Col. Sherman McGrew sent Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand a note from Balad, Iraq, telling her about how he had taken a copy of her book on a mission to administer medical care to girls at a dilapidated village school. For several months, McGrew and his fellow soldiers had been bringing assistance to Iraqi schools, which they had found in shocking condition. Not far from Saddam's opulent palaces, children struggled to learn in tumbledown, windowless buildings trafficked by stray animals that defecated on the floors. The schools had no libraries, books, blackboards or even the most basic supplies.

As McGrew worked with the girls, he noticed them taking interest in his Seabiscuit book. McGrew sat them down, and through a translator, told them about the great racehorse who had rallied the hopes of America in the depths of the Depression. The story, McGrew found, had special appeal to the children, whose culture enjoyed an ancient, flourishing tradition of horse racing, and whose homeland, freed from tyranny, was just opening up to the hope and possibility that form the theme of Seabiscuit's narrative. In the girls, for whom books were exciting novelties, McGrew found a rapt audience. He told them that maybe they too could grow up to write best selling books, and idea that met with wonder among girls accustomed to a society that was severely oppressive to women. McGrew's only regret, he wrote, was that he couldn't give the book to the girls in their native Arabic.

The idea. McGrew's story, and the plight of Iraqi children, were deeply moving to Hillenbrand, who began looking into ways to get her book to the children in their native language. Through her Arabic language publisher, Nahdet Misr in Egypt, she and McGrew arranged to purchase copies for the children McGrew had met as well as kids in neighboring villages. Word of the effort spread, and soon Hillenbrand found herself deluged in emails from people from across the country who wanted to make donations to buy more books for the children. "The response was extraordinary," remembers Hillenbrand. "Once people learned of how little these children had, and how hard our soldiers were working to help them, they were very excited about joining in."

Military personnel, distressed over Iraq's lack of books, libraries and basic school supplies, were eager to expand the program and deliver the books to the children, and they arranged to airlift the books from Egypt to Iraq. Nahdet Misr offered to sell the book to donators at a large discount. Thoroughbred Charities of America, the largest charity in the horse racing industry, arranged to set up an account to take tax-deductible donations for the effort. A small idea to purchase a handful of books for girls at a single village school had blossomed into an international drive to bring the book to children across Iraq.

Because the story of Seabiscuit gives readers a glimpse of the best of American culture and democracy, Operation Iraqi Children organizers hope that it will foster a better understanding of our nation, and goodwill towards Americans, among Iraqis. Best of all, says McGrew, the rags- to-riches story could inspire impoverished Iraqi children to broaden the reach of their own aspirations. "I love to think of these children reading Seabiscuit in their very poor villages and dreaming," said McGrew. "Who knows what these small seeds planted will bear in twenty or so years?"

In February of 2004, Army Major Juliann Doris, who was coordinating the effort from Iraq, suggested that Hillenbrand speak to actor Gary Sinise, who after touring Iraq, was founding an effort to bring school supplies to Iraqi children. Sinise and Hillenbrand found that they shared a common goal, and decided to merge their two programs. Operation Iraqi Children was born.

How you can help. The Seabiscuit program of the Operation Iraqi Children is operated through Thoroughbred Charities of America. Even a small donation will make a huge difference. In a special arrangement for Operation Iraqi Children, Egyptian publisher Nahdet Misr is offering the book at a substantial discount: For the first 500 books the program orders, the price will be $3.70 per book; for 501 through 1000 books, the price will be $3.30; for 1001 to 3000 books, the price will be $3; and for 3001 books upwards, the price will be $2.75 per book. Each book purchased by supporters of Operation Iraqi Children will be delivered to an Iraqi child age 12 and over by U.S. military personnel. This program is fully non-profit; 100% of mailed donations, and more than 97% of online credit card donations, go to the purchase of books. Hillenbrand is taking no royalties; all author royalties will be reinvested in more books for the children.

Donate now! To donate by mail, send a check to

Thoroughbred Charities of America
PO Box 229
Middletown, DE 19709
All checks must be earmarked Operation Iraqi Children. All donations are tax-deductible.

To donate online by credit card, visit www.thoroughbredcharities.org

About Thoroughbred Charities of America. Since its inception in 1990, Thoroughbred Charities of America has awarded in excess of $8.5 million in grant commitments to nearly 100 equine organizations. Thoroughbred Charities of America is the leading charity in the thoroughbred industry. Grants are awarded for equine rescue, retirement, medical research, and therapeutic riding programs as well as scholarships and rehabilitation programs for people who work with racehorses. For more information, visit www.thoroughbredcharities.org or contact Terry Conway at 302-427-0905.