PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Black-owned riding club in Strawberry Mansion has seen donations triple since the release of the movie "Concrete Cowboy." However, the man who runs the group said the movie isn't really about his club.
Ellis Ferrell has mentored youth at Fletcher Street Riding club for over two decades, but he's been riding horses in Strawberry Mansion since he was just a kid.
"Horses have been on here for more than 100 years," he said. "I'm 82 years old and I used to come around here when I was a kid."
The riding club offers free instruction to anyone who wants to ride, but Ferrell said it's all about keeping young people off the streets.
"I've seen too many kids with nothing to do, on the streets, in gangs and I always try to keep them out of that," he said.
The nonprofit operates on donations and there's been a recent stroke of good luck. Ferrell said people have been confusing his club with the one featured in the new Netflix movie "Concrete Cowboy," starring Idris Elba.
"I explain it to them that Fletcher Street Riding Club has nothing to do with Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy. Fletcher Street Riding Club had nothing to do with the movie," he clarified. "I'm not even in one scene."
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But the fans kept coming, following the movie's April 2 release. "All day long, people in and out wanting to see where the movie was at wanting to talk to me," he said.
Now, much-needed donations to their GoFundMe have skyrocketed to more than $217,000.
"It helped us a lot, pays for some of the wood, hay and doctor's bills," he shared.
Ferrell said he's grateful, and donations are making all the difference. Still, he wants people to know once and for all, he's not the "Concrete Cowboy."