Photo by Lincoln Harris
Ask people what they know about polo, and chances are you’ll get a few blank stares. Most are aware that horses and mallets are in play, but for the most part, polo remains a mystery to many.
Max Hempt, of Hempt Bros. Inc., grew up with the sport. “Max’s grandfather was really passionate about horses, and they played polo, which is unique for this region,” says Mike Pavone, president and CEO of Pavone Marketing Group, Inc.
Pavone, aware of Max’s enthusiasm for the sport and his dedication to charity, approached Hempt with an idea, and soon the annual polo match for charity was up and running.
The benefit, which began in 2005, started out relatively small, according to Pavone. “During the first few years, it was basically several families getting together, cooking out after the match and listening to music from the back of a pickup truck,” he says.
As word spread, the event grew, and organizers soon decided that the Multiple Sclerosis Society would be the sole beneficiary of the proceeds. This year’s George F. Hempt Memorial MS Polo Match will be held on August 11 and 12 and is expected to attracted hundreds.
“We had a vision that one day it would be known as the ‘go-to event of the summer,’ and we pulled that off,” says Pavone.
“The Sport of Kings”
Sometime between 600 BC and 100 AD, polo gained popularity as a sport played by military men and nobility, thus becoming known as the “sport of kings.” These days polo is accessible to nearly anyone who has access to a polo club—hundreds of which exist here in the United States.
Polo consists of two teams, each with four players whose objective is to drive a ball into the opposing team’s goal using a long-handled mallet. Max Hempt is fond of explaining it as “hockey on horseback.” The businessman recruits the two teams to play, bringing the horses and jockeys to his farm located in Mechanicsburg, near Cumberland Valley High School.
Every year an impressive caravan of horse trailers snakes its way to the sprawling Hempt farm. “Each player needs about six horses because they get exhausted,” Pavone says of the animals, which have been known to reach speeds of 35 miles per hour.
Photo by Robin Matthews
Proceeds Benefit a Good Cause
Multiple sclerosis is a disabling disease of the central nervous system, and the annual polo event helps to provide funds for life-changing services and important research. Anne Mageras, president of the Pennsylvania Keystone Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, says, “through our fundraising arm, we are able to provide cutting-edge research, which has led to breakthrough treatments to half, or slow, the progression of the disease. Our vision is to create a world free of MS.”
Richard “Coach” Diggs—who spent 20 years in the coaching profession at prestigious institutions like the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs—has returned to his childhood home in Harrisburg to take care of his mother, who suffers from dementia. Diggs was diagnosed with MS in 2000 and spoke at last year’s event to stress the importance of supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“What the local chapter has done for me is to keep me independent so I can go grocery shopping and pick up medication. They equipped my van with a chair lift, cleaned my house and garage, and installed a stair lift in my house,” says Diggs, who, as a caregiver for his mother, never gets a day off, no matter how poorly he feels. “I have deep appreciation for the MS Society, so I speak to people who are in a position to provide funds so others can benefit,” says Diggs.
Putting the “Fun” into Fundraiser
The fundraiser begins on Friday night with a Denim and Diamonds reception, where guests can enjoy food, drink, music and auctions—both live and silent. “It’s basically a party that takes place beneath a huge tent and is supported through local business sponsorships. Family and friends are invited, and everyone has a great time,” says Mageras.
On Saturday morning, starting at 10 a.m., the event reconvenes with a golf outing at the Sportsman’s Club on Linglestown Road. Afterwards, the fun continues with a huge tailgate party at the Hempt Farm. “Some participants have pretty elaborate spreads,” says Mageras.
During the day, patrons have the opportunity to browse items like jewelry, crafts and apparel.
Kids in the know usually make a beeline for the children’s tent, where face painting, sweet treats and crafts are offered.
Around midday, it’s time for another event that puts a smile on everyone’s face. Small dogs of all breeds line up for the Doggie Dash and race towards a finish line in an effort to get their paws on some very special prizes.
Both Pavone and Mageras are hoping for another huge turnout this year. “It’s a wonderful event for families and friends to get together in the summer and a beautiful way to spend an afternoon, all for a good cause,” says Pavone.
To learn more, visit:
nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/PAX/Fundraising-Events/George-F-Hempt-Memorial-MS-Polo-Match
BONUS:
Polo Picnic Tailgating Recipes
