Bright sunshine and a lovely breeze greeted attendees of the fourth biennial Windsor Charity Polo Cup Feb. 17, co-chaired by the Hon. Hilary M. Weston and Salvatore Ferragamo. The flagship community fundraising event of the Windsor Charitable Foundation, this year’s polo match supported equally the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Alzheimer and Parkinson Association of Indian River County.
As guests arrived at the sold-out event, they enjoyed a champagne reception, sipping from flutes of Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée and Ferragamo’s Il Borro Toscana wines while browsing the upscale specialty retail village, where a portion of sales was donated to the charities; strolling among gleaming sports cars presented by the Space Coast Region of Porsche Club of America; and watching as talented youngsters took to the field for the Windsor junior player demonstration.
“Today we have 800 people joining us for the luncheon,” said Hilary Weston, welcoming guests and thanking sponsors and all involved in the enormous undertaking.
“As many of you know, Windsor is our ‘Village by the Sea.’ We take great satisfaction that this cup has continued to grow.”
Representatives of the two beneficiaries, Deborah Brooks, Michael J. Fox Foundation co-founder/executive vice chairman, and Peggy Cunningham, Alzheimer & Parkinson Association executive director, each spoke about the important work undertaken by their organizations.
“Generous events like the Windsor Charity Polo Cup allow us to do more to accelerate scientific breakthroughs to the estimated 5 million people who live worldwide with Parkinson’s disease,” said Brooks. “To date the Michael J. Fox Foundation has funded over $800 million in research, making us the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research in the world.”
“We are so grateful to the Windsor community and to the Westons for the incredible support that you have shown our organization,” said Cunningham, noting that their numerous programs and services offer support to families grappling with issues affecting memory and/or movement – all at no cost. Through their educational initiative they hope to create a dementia-friendly community. “Our local organization is literally transformed by your support and allows us to sustain an ability to be able to give all of these services to the residents of Indian River County.”
Match Director Max Secunda introduced the impressive lineup of international players, all of whom donated their time: the Pezuñas Caliente team with Vero’s own John Walsh, Juan Monteverde, Nacho Figueras and Lucas Criado playing against the Falasiri team of Salvatore Ferragamo, Carlos Gracida Jr., Jesse Bray and Rodrigo Andrade.
Before the match, guests in the main pavilion dined on an elegant luncheon created by Executive Chef Robert Meitzer and impeccably served by Windsor’s attentive staff at tables with stunning floral centerpieces of roses and orchids.
And across the field, J. McLaughlin CEO Mary Ellen Coyne and co-founder Jay McLaughlin served as this year’s tailgate judges, taking on the difficult task of choosing from among many creative entrants’ interpretation of this year’s Picnic with the Ponies tailgate competition.
Photos by: Denise Ritchie
Click HERE to see more or buy photos
