Philanthropy took center field and the thunder of hooves filled the air during the eighth biennial Windsor Charity Polo Cup to benefit three local nonprofits – Childcare Resources of Indian River, Crossover Mission, and the Environmental Learning Center.
The signature event kicked off with a Players Reception at the Windsor Beach Club the evening before the match.
“Tonight we celebrate our players and our signature sponsors who generously donate their time, their talents and their gifts to support our benefiting charities,” said Jane Smalley, Windsor marketing director and Polo Cup steering committee member.
“Our foundation board received 15 charity nominations,” said Smalley.
She proffered praise to Windsor members who are actively involved in the local nonprofit community, and said that the beneficiaries offer programs that “support the basic educational and enrichment needs of underprivileged children in Indian River County, as well as education on the importance of land preservation for our future generations.”
Shannon McGuire Bowman, Childcare Resources executive director, spoke of the ways they impact 4,000 children annually, providing high-quality early education to the “ALICE” (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) population.
Cathy De Schouwer, Crossover Mission co-founder and executive director, reported that 70 percent of their student-athletes maintain a B average or higher, using basketball as a hook for academic mentoring.
Barbara Schlitt Ford, Environmental Learning Center executive director, said that they had just celebrated 38 years of “feet-wet” environmental education to some 5,000 students annually, noting that with most of them, their first experience on the water is at the ELC.
The next day, before sitting down to a spectacular lunch under the grand tent to watch the start of the first chukker, attendees enjoyed champagne, a Golden Mallet cocktail, perused the luxury automobile showcase, nibbled on sweets from M Bakeri and visited commemorative artist Derek Gores’ pop-up gallery.
Galen Weston Jr., son of the late Windsor founders Galen and Hilary Weston, to whom the event paid tribute, welcomed the crowd to what he affectionately called the “Weston Charity Polo Cup.”
“Polo fields were the first amenity ever put into the Windsor property. Even though Windsor has expanded, horses and polo are still a unique and really special part of our identity,” said Weston.
“Max Secunda and I cornered Galen years ago and said, ‘We need to raise charity money that stays here,’” recalled emcee John Walsh, television host, Vero resident and Charity Cup co-founder in 2012.
“It’s hard to get top-class players to come to Vero in the middle of the Wellington season. They bring their best horses because they love the game and they love this cause,” noted Secunda, Windsor’s director of equestrian operations.
Before the first chukker, there was also a flurry of activity on the far side of the verdant field as tailgaters set up elaborate tent-scapes. In a nod to the event falling on Valentine’s Day, folks wore their hearts on their sleeves in compliance with this year’s theme, Love Is All Around Us. The O’Dare Boga Dobson Group of One Sotheby’s International earned First Place for their ‘That’s Amore’ display, an alfresco la dolce vita dining experience.
And then it was time for the main event, as the Maple Leafs, the late Galen Weston’s historic team name, faced off against the Shamrocks, which Walsh and Secunda used to play with, for an exciting afternoon of play. The world-class players showcased their precision and incredible horsemanship throughout the match.
After the divots were stomped, the coveted trophy was bestowed upon the victors, and the crowd dispersed, the echoes of horse hooves pounding and cheering fans lingered, as will the support given to our local children and the environment.
For more information, visit WindsorFlorida.com.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
