Polo for Babies

Break out your haute couture hats, chic cocktail dresses and posh pumps. It’s time to enjoy a day filled with the city’s best fashion, food, drinks, and horses – all for a great cause.

“Polo For Babies” is an annual charity polo match hosted by The Leonidas Foundation, which raises money for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Chris and Betsy Leonidas founded The Leonidas Foundation in 2013 as a non-profit 501 (c)(3), inspired by their daughter Adeline who developed a very severe case of Entero Virus. She was admitted back into the hospital just seven days after birth, experienced complete liver failure and a stage three brain bleed as a result.

But the care that Cincinnati Children’s provided was nothing short of a miracle, Chris recalls. “It was a miracle recovery and we were blown away with Children’s Hospital, the doctors, nurses, staff and all of the amazing work they did,” he adds.

Feeling helpless and forever indebted to the amazing team there, Chris and Betsy vowed to always give back in any way they could. Today, the Leonidas Foundation’s overall mission and goal is to raise money for Infant and Child research and care for years to come through events like this and others.

While brainstorming fundraisers, the idea of a “Polo for Babies” event seemed like the perfect way to support a good cause and have a great time. “Since Polo has been in my family for generations we thought this would be a great social event and the best way to give back the hospital, the patients and the community,” says Chris.

A native New Yorker, Chris recalls attending polo matches as the social, fashion, and athletic event to be at every summer. Aiming to recreate the same social event here in Cincinnati, he partnered with former polo player and United States Polo Association Circuit Governor of the Mid-States, Mark Sedacca. “We will be bringing high level professional players to Cincinnati and players from all over the Midwest,” he explains.

The event will be held at Kellogg Avenue Fields on Saturday, August 23 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and it will be the “First Annual Cincinnati Cup”. It will feature a VIP tent, music, drinks, local food trucks, and tailgating around the field all with a “red carpet vibe,” according to Chris. “Our goal is to raise money for Children’s Hospital but with a hip and urban spin, we want to bring young professionals to the event who want to do good and give back,” he explains.

Although this year the match will be held only for one day the goal is to make it an annual tournament, which will be held for a month or the whole summer. “It will be something to look forward to and get dressed up,” Chris says. “It’s a fashion show without the fashion show formality.” Tickets for General Admission are $10 and VIP tickets can be purchased for $40. Additional tickets for services such as VIP Reserved Table and Private Field Side Tent can also be purchased. “Every penny of the ticket sales will go to Children’s Hospital, that’s our pledge,” Chris adds.

For tickets and event, visit www.poloforbabies.com or www.facebook.com/poloforbabies. If you are unable to attend but would like to show your support, you can visit www.theleonidasfoundation.org and donate. Interested in volunteering for the Polo for Babies tournament or any other Foundation event? Email Chris at cleonidas@theleonidasfoundation.org.