One of the largest fundraisers in Palm Beach County more than lived up to expectations on a chilly night under the stars. Nic Roldan’s Sunset Polo White Party, hosted by Grant Ganzi, was held Friday, March 21. While SebiLion (Grant Ganzi, Kris Kampsen, Nic Roldan and Matias Gonzalez) won a four-chukker thriller over Black Watch (Jason Crowder, Hilario Figueras, Tommy Collingwood and Fred Mannix), it was the Kids Cancer Foundation and the Polo Training Foundation that benefited the most from the generosity of sponsors and fans.
Meanwhile, Cedric Gervais and Tyga entertained more than 600 guests, including tennis star Venus Williams, two-time Super Bowl champion Jason Pierre Paul and actress/singer Kelley Jakle.
“All our team here did a lot of hard work,” Roldan said. “There is a lot of love and passion that goes into it. At the end of the day, we do it for one reason, these little guys who we love so much, the Kids Cancer Foundation and PTF. All the proceeds will go to them this year.”
Ganzi played an integral role in the event’s success, along with Melissa Ganzi, Laura Hirsch DeLuca and Olexa Celine.
“Without our team, we wouldn’t have been able to make this happen,” Ganzi said. “It’s another year we have been successful, got everyone here and pulled it off.”
SebiLion edged Black Watch, 4-3, in the spirited Sunset Polo Match. Ganzi scored in the final three seconds to clinch the win.
The fast-paced game pitted two well-matched teams while DJ Webb’s music mix played in the background to welcome guests. Ganzi and Crowder each scored two goals for their teams. Roldan, Kampsen and Collingwood each had one goal.
“Thank you to all the players,” Roldan said. “There’s a lot of polo during the season, so to make the effort to come and to play, we really appreciate it.”
The event was kicked off by a stirring rendition of the national anthem by hometown favorite Tom Blake, followed by a guest throw-in by Kids Cancer Foundation warriors.
After the game, Olexa Celine presented awards to the players, and Michael DeLuca awarded the Neil and Laura Hirsch Perpetual Trophy to SebiLion’s foursome. Then the party started with great food, drink and best of all, top-shelf entertainment.
Miami Beach-based French DJ, record producer and actor Cedric Gervais and American rapper Tyga kept the crowd dancing and entertained throughout the night.
Ganzi, Roldan and Natascha Baecher have combined to create an event unlike any other in the U.S. by combining great polo, DJ music, dancing and an Argentine asado to raise money for the Kids Cancer Foundation and the Polo Training Foundation, among other charities supported by Sunset Polo International, a nonprofit founded by Roldan, Ganzi and Baecher. Learn more at www.sunsetpolo.com.
