The sport of polo has long been considered the “sport of kings”; a thrilling pastime, enjoyed only by the rich and the royal. Although this adage largely held true for many of the early years of the sport, more recently, many clubs, teams, and individual players are making efforts to spread awareness about the sport and bring it to the masses. Additionally, others are utilizing the expensive connections surrounding the sport to benefit thousands. These efforts to give back and change the reputation of the sport has resulted in the installation of many successful charity events featuring high goal polo.
Charitable Polo in the US
Since its inception in 2002, the U.S. Polo Assn. 40 Goal Challenge for the Polo Players Support Group has grown to become one of the most heavily anticipated charity events in the polo community and beyond. Each year, this event welcomes two formidable high-goal teams to compete at the flagship fundraiser. In the past, iconic players such as Hilario Ulloa, Facundo Pieres, and Adolfo Cambiaso have all graced the field to raise money for the Polo Players Support Group (PPSG). The PPSG is a charity organization dedicated to providing assistance to seriously injured polo players, grooms, etc. and their families. In addition to charities centered around the polo community, there are also many polo events dedicated to providing aid to organizations outside of the world of polo.
The Buoniconti Fund, founded by the Buoniconti family after Marc Buoniconti suffered a spinal cord injury in 1985, is dedicated to raising money for research on the effective treatment of spinal cord injury and paralysis. The foundation’s charitable efforts are largely donated to the Miami Project; the most comprehensive and renowned spinal cord injury research center in the world. Recently, these charitable efforts have grown to include a polo tournament at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida. This event also showcases dressage and jumping competitions, making The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis an exemplification of what the equestrian world can do for charitable causes.
The Denver Polo Classic is the nation’s largest charitable polo tournament. The event, organized by the Denver Children’s Foundation (DCF), raises money for grants that directly impact at-risk children and children in need in the greater Colorado community. Stretching across three days, the Denver Polo Classic begins with a black tie dinner, followed by the polo competition beginning on the second day of the fundraiser, and concluding with a final match on the last day of the epic event. Similar to the DCF, Polo for Life Inc. also recognizes the potential polo has to help children in need.
Polo for Life Inc. is a nonprofit organization that raises money through high goal polo events and the connections provided through the sport to help financially support pediatric cancer patients and their families throughout their treatment and into survivorship. The money raised through Polo for Life’s events have kept families struggling to afford treatments for their children in their homes and provided treatment plans that would otherwise have been out of reach. Since it was founded by polo athlete Brandon Phillips, Polo for Life Inc. has raised over two million dollars for their cause. In addition to hosting polo matches to raise money for charities, many foundations also utilize existing polo tournaments and other polo world connections to generate funds for charity.
Founded by ESPN, the V Foundation for Cancer Research is committed to securing the “victory over cancer” by providing financial support to cutting-edge cancer treatment programs and research. Last year, the V Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary through the ““Boo-Yah, A Celebration of Stuart Scott” cancer research event sponsored by the U.S. Polo Assn., a partner of ESPN and the official brand of the United States Polo Association. In addition to providing financial support for the event, U.S. Polo Assn. also donated two tickets to the 2024 U.S. Open Polo Championship to be offered in the event’s luxury auction. Overall, the event raised more than 2.4 million dollars that directly impacts cancer research.
Throughout the National Polo Center season, U.S. Polo Assn. donates $100,000 to several of the aforementioned polo charities and equine welfare charities, including the following organizations: Homes for Horses Coalition, Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, Polo for Life, Polo Players Support Group, Polo Pony Rescue, Polo Training Foundation, Replay Polo, Retired Racehorse Project, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, and Work to Ride Program.
Written in collaboration with Lily Brennan