From Show Ring to Social Impact: Matt Morrissey’s Partnership with JustWorld International
For more than two decades, Matt Morrissey, of Wellington, Florida, has quietly committed to helping JustWorld, through the horse shows he runs with his Morrissey Management Group, his commitment to the annual gala, and his personal representation as an Ambassador.
In August, his influence in the equestrian community expanded even further as he was named to a new position: general manager of the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California. Morrissey says he will continue to run his shows in Traverse City, Michigan, and commute to Thermal for events.
Passion and Perspective
Morrissey discovered JustWorld decades ago through his family, including his father and business partner, Michael Morrissey, and his uncle, Gene Mische, the founder of Stadium Jumping Inc. and the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, who were involved with JWI since its founding.
“I got involved with JustWorld around 2004,” Matt recalls. “My uncle had started supporting the organization, and I wanted to carry that forward. What really resonated with me was the passion—Jessica’s and the whole team’s—to help kids not just with education but with their basic welfare. It really put into perspective how fortunate many of us are and how much others go without.”
Matt Morrissey (left) was a JWI Honoree at the 2024 Annual Gala, alongside (from left): Pedro Cebulka, Corinne Sweeney, JWI founder Jessica Newman and Mike Lawrence.
That perspective deepened a few years later during a visit to Guatemala. “It was incredible to see what Juan Pablo was building there,” Matt says. “At the time, the project was operating out of his parents' home. To take your family’s personal space and turn it into a community center for kids? That showed me a rare level of personal commitment.”
Trending in Traverse City
Over the years, JustWorld has become a fixture at Morrissey Management Group’s shows, especially in Traverse City, where fundraisers and awareness efforts have included clear-the-jump initiatives, auctions, Adopt-A-Project activations, golf tournaments, and more.
One standout memory? “Definitely [JWI Ambassador and FEI official] Phil Rozon at the golf tournament—he’s a character,” Matt says. “He MC’d the event and just told people to open their wallets. Everyone laughs, but they listen, too. It’s that kind of energy that makes these events special.”
Matt Morrissey (right), with wife Tiffany and daughter Maddie and friends at the 2025 JWI Gala
Riders, trainers, and spectators have responded enthusiastically to Traverse City Horse Show’s support of JustWorld. “I’ve had a lot of people come up and say, ‘This is great, I had no idea what JustWorld was about before this.’ It’s a great way to raise awareness and get people involved,” Matt says.
Even beyond the horse show, Matt and his team put together a premiere item for JWI’s live auction at its annual gala each year. In 2025, his Traverse City vacation package was the top seller of the evening, going for $18,500.
“We were blown away by the response [to the trip]. The item we offered went for way more than we expected,” Matt says. “The general manager of the golf course even came to the gala and was stunned by the turnout and the impact.”
Each year, Matt, who was named an honoree at the 2024 JWI Annual Gala, and his team find new ways to support the cause. “We want participants to walk away with more than ribbons. We want them to realize they can change a child’s life,” he says. “The money they help raise goes a long way.”
He encourages other show managers to get involved. “It’s a great opportunity to support something meaningful. We hear from so many of our participants that they’re proud we’re promoting JustWorld. There’s really no downside,” he says. “What I’ve seen is that if equestrians are passionate about a cause, they get behind it. That’s why JustWorld’s presence at other shows is so valuable. There are always new families coming into the picture—and it’s all about awareness.”
Matt and Michael Morrissey have been JWI supporters for decades.
And now, as he and his wife Tiffany watch their own daughter, Matty, grow up, the mission feels even more personal. “As she gets older, I can see her becoming involved,” he says. “When you're young, you don’t always see beyond your own world. But being exposed to this kind of work helps broaden that view.”
So what’s been the most rewarding part? “Seeing how the projects have evolved and how many lives they’ve touched,” he says. “It’s powerful to know that what we do here can impact a child’s future thousands of miles away.”
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JustWorld International
Established in 2003, JustWorld International was created to connect equestrians with a direct way to help fracture the cycle of poverty through education, healthcare, and nutrition programs for children around the world. Ambassadors from more than forty countries have since committed to “Ride for the Cause” and transform the lives of children through equestrian sport. Envisioning a more just world, the nonprofit organization cultivates strategic, project partnerships in a collaborative approach to impact the lives of nearly 10,000 children around the globe on a daily basis.
To donate, become an Ambassador, or learn more about JustWorld, please visit www.justworldinternational.org or @justworldinternational on Facebook and Instagram.
JustWorld International is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States and tax-deductible donations are accepted in the United States. JustWorld International has no political or religious affiliation.
