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Clouds Part on Time For Polo With Pedro Gala at Wellington’s IPC

Posted by Jose Lambiet , March 5, 2012 Print

The sport of kings served as backdrop for the yearly Polo with Pedro charity lunch at IPC Sunday in Wellington (Click on the Mike Jachles photo for the event gallery)

It was east meets west Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

Well, more like that Palm Beach society meets Wellington’s – and all in the name of charity.

– Click here for all the Mike Jachles photos of the event

With polo matches as backdrop, the eighth annual Polo With Pedro gala brought a couple hundred fans and friends of the deceased Palm Beach philanthropist Pedro Morrison to the VIP tent for a fancy luncheon and mingling. The beloved Morrison died of a heart attack after polo practice in 2003.

The affair also serves as a fundraiser for the YMCA of the Palm Beaches.

And just like that, a cold day that started with overcast skies and a drizzle cleared up into a picture perfect polo afternoon.

Kirsten Braden, the wingding’s creative director, praised her team but announced it’d be her last year: “I have been honored to work on this committee and help grow this fantastic event. It’s my last year as I am dedicating more time to my family.”

The event has been sold out for the last two years and remains the area Y’s biggest fundraiser.

One guest was British tennis legend John Lloyd, Boca-based Wimbledon champ Chris Evert‘s long ago ex-husband. He proclaimed the event “an entertaining day.”

Polo with Pedro was supported by many friends of Morrison’s, including Winter Equestrian Festival owner Mark Bellissimo, developer Glenn Straub, his Grace the Scottish Duke of Argyll (no joke, he does exist and we have photos to prove it). Also spotted in the crowd: socialites Tamara Gerber and Caryna Nina, Tommy Morrison (Pedro’s nephew), American polo star Nic Roldan and Johnny Dodge.

The auction featured a membership to IPC and raised $140,000. Palm Beach philanthropist Tony Beyer bid on most items then donated them back. And many guest bid on polo player Marc Ganzi’s Miami Heat tickets that he donated another set.

We have more (charity) balls than the Shiny Sheet:

– The Caron Renaissance gala brings comedian Richard Lewis, jock Joe Theismann to Mar-a-Lago

– Dave Matthews plays the Everglades Foundation ball

– Dezer car collection museum opens in North Palm Beach

– Goldie Hawn, UM kick off $1.6 billion campaign

– Tropical pound setting wows them at the Fairchild Tropical Garden’s yearly gala

– Dave Matthews to highlight Everglades Foundation gala

– Donald Trump at the Red Cross Ball: Negative electioneering hurts the GOP

– The Palm Beach zoo ball is where the wild things are

– Tebowing in Palm Beach: Donald Trump snags Tim Tebow garb at Komen for the Cure auction

– Rod Stewart, Housewife Ramona, cold hard cash star at Palm Beach Policemen’s Ball

– Young Friends of the Red Cross kick off the new year in style