Giving Back, Gatsby Style
NEWPORT, R.I. — August 7, 2026 — Newport Polo’s 25th Annual International Polo Charity Ball raised $80,000 for child and youth initiatives at the sold-out Great Gatsby Gala, presented by BD, on Friday, July 31, at Newport’s legendary Rosecliff mansion.
In celebration of Newport Polo’s 150th Diamond Jubilee, the evening transported more than 300 guests into a glittering Newport interpretation of the Roaring Twenties, where Jazz Age glamour, spirited philanthropy and a little Gatsby-worthy extravagance met beneath Rosecliff’s crystal chandeliers.
The evening’s proceeds will benefit World Pediatrics, Boys & Girls Club of Newport County, FabNewport, Newport Historical Society and TeamFAME—five organizations advancing the health, education, enrichment and opportunities of the next generation.
“They are 30% of the population, but let there be no doubt that they are 100% of our future,” said Vafa Vakhavan, CEO of World Pediatrics. “It’s an honor to partner with Newport’s leading organizations with a common goal—bringing medical resources and enrichment to those that need it most.”
“We are deeply grateful to our generous sponsors, donors and enthusiastic bidders, who have helped Newport Polo raise more than $2.4 million for nonprofit organizations over the past 35 years, and there’s more to come in 2026,” said Dan Keating, Founder and President of Newport Polo. “This year’s Diamond Jubilee Gala was a spectacular celebration of generosity and community, with every bid helping invest in the future of our next generation.”
A Little Gatsby, A Lot of Newport
From the red carpet to the last dance, the evening channeled the glamour, decadence and irrepressible optimism of the Jazz Age. Guests arrived in a parade of beaded evening gowns, Art Deco jewels, shimmering silk, feathers and fringe, while white tie and tails, top hats and a few bootlegger gangsters added to the tableau.
With the Atlantic glowing beyond Rosecliff’s terraces, guests were greeted by Gala Ambassadors and treated to a cocktail hour worthy of West Egg. The Cocktail Guru poured sophisticated martinis and signature libations alongside an indulgent parade of passed hors d’oeuvres, including brown butter lobster rolls, flank steak and mushroom crostini, warm brie with fig and apple mostarda, pulled pork sweet potato crisps and watermelon radish tacos.
The Jazz Age continued at dinner, where Russell Morin Catering presented a refined summer menu featuring Angus filet mignon with Béarnaise, seared coconut-lime halibut with piquillo pepper chimichurri, and a roasted tomato and herb risotto with vegan Parmesan and grilled summer vegetables. Dessert arrived as a Diamond Jubilee dark chocolate raspberry buttercream cake—a suitably decadent finale.
The Main Event: Bidding for the Children
As cocktails gave way to the main event, guests gathered beneath Rosecliff’s gilded ballroom chandeliers for an auction worthy of the occasion.
MC Dan Keating welcomed the evening’s patrons and sponsors and passed the proverbial baton to polo’s next cadre of players, before handing the spotlight to auctioneer William Crisp, who set the room into motion with a dazzling collection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Among the coveted lots were a Napa Valley estate escape, VIP Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show getaway, Outer Banks retreat, Andrea Bocelli VIP Tuscany Experience, private Canouan Island villa, Croatian Coast escape, Caye Caulker Belize adventure and US Open luxury suite experience.
Bidders competed from the ballroom and remotely, with paddles rising throughout the room in pursuit of extraordinary travel, luxury and access—all in support of the evening’s beneficiaries.
Let the Good Times Roll
With the auction complete, the ballroom became its own Jazz Age nightclub. Guests took to the dance floor beneath Rosecliff’s soaring architecture, turning the gilded ballroom into a glittering sea of movement well into the evening.
And because every good Newport night deserves an encore, the final crowd migrated to the Clarke Cooke House Skybar, where the last toast was raised beneath the stars.
A Diamond Jubilee Worth Celebrating
The gala marked a milestone year for Newport Polo as it celebrates its 150th Diamond Jubilee, commemorating 150 years since the founding of polo in America in Newport in 1876.
The evening also continued Newport Polo’s long tradition of using its platform to create meaningful community impact. Since the launch of its annual Charity Ball, Newport Polo’s charitable initiatives have generated more than $2.4 million for nonprofit organizations, supporting causes ranging from children’s programs and scholarships to conservation, healthcare, arts and cultural institutions.
The Gatsby Gala Society
Newport Polo extends its gratitude to the evening’s sponsors: BD, Vanderbilt International Properties, Fraîche Wine Group, House of Creed, The Clarke Cooke House, The Cocktail Guru, Loyal Nine and Atomic Black.
Special appreciation goes to the 2026 Auction Committee: Rebecca Bertrand, Mary Lou Cavanaugh, Kelley Coen, Steve Heath, Agnes Keating, LaTangela Light, Marguerite Marano, Jennifer McKean, Chair, Stacie Mills, Romina Newman, Meg Stowe and Melanie Winfield.
Newport Polo also gratefully recognizes the generous auction donors, including Blu Zen, Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County Board of Directors, Cane Garden Bay Beach Hotel Tortola, Denison Yachts Newport, FabNewport, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Richard Prins of Charlottesville, Silver Turtle Villa, Young Island Resort and Yount Leap Estate.
[View the Great Gatsby Gala Photo Album]
Newport Polo’s Tradition of Giving
Newport Polo’s annual Charity Ball began at the turn of the millennium as an extension of the Club’s longstanding commitment to community stewardship. The gala has since become one of Newport’s most anticipated summer evenings—and a signature platform for philanthropy.
Over more than three decades, Newport Polo’s charitable initiatives have benefited organizations including the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, Newport Tree Conservancy, Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice, Newport Historical Society, Jeffrey Osborne Foundation, Newport Classical, Save The Bay, Newport Opera Performing Arts Center, newportFILM, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Hope Funds for Cancer Research, Star Kids Scholarship Program, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and Wounded Warrior Project, among many others.
“Community stewardship is one of Newport Polo’s core principles,” said Keating. “Our charitable initiatives began even before the Newport International Polo Series, and we remain committed to building on that legacy to help secure our community’s future.”
ABOUT ROSECLIFF
Rosecliff is among the most spectacular of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions. Commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs and designed by architect Stanford White, the mansion was completed in 1902 and became legendary for its lavish entertainments. More than a century later, Rosecliff remains one of Newport’s most glamorous settings for celebrations, philanthropy and society events.
ABOUT NEWPORT POLO
Newport Polo is home to America’s First Polo Club, founded in Newport in 1876. A founding member of the United States Polo Association, Newport Polo offers exhibition polo, club membership, instruction and outdoor and arena polo. The Newport International Polo Series welcomes teams from around the world and serves as a global ambassador for the sport, with international competitors representing more than 35 countries having taken the field in Newport.