Newport International Polo Charity Gala – Kia Ora Cosmic Ball

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Alight to the Kia Ora Cosmic Ball, Presented by BD on Friday, August 5th, 2022 with Honorary Gala Ambassador, R&B Legend Jeffrey Osborne and international polo guests of honor, the New Zealand polo team, at Newport’s famed Rosecliff mansion for a spirited White Party in honor of the team’s celebrated south pacific paradise, known for centuries as the Long White Cloud.

Tickets are on sale now at www.nptpolo.com while supplies last.

Our MC and Gala Ambassadors will receive over 400 generous and fun-loving points of light from our polo community to make a red carpet entrance for the annual sell-out black-tie affair, one of the summer’s most anticipated social events, to support the mission of the Jeffrey Osborne Foundation.

Kia Ora, a universal New Zealand greeting from the Maori language, meaning ‘have life’ or ‘be healthy’, is the perfect spirit in which to embrace this year’s beneficiaries.  A portion of ticket sales, and all proceeds from the evening’s Live & Silent Auction, will benefit the Jeffrey Osborne Foundation whose mission is to keep music and the arts in our public school systems and provide food, shelter, and a safe haven for RI families and children in need by funding the Amos House, St. Mary’s Home for Children, Boys & Girls Club of Providence, Button Hole, Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School and The Met, and this year will also include the Boys & Girls Club of Newport as a beneficiary of the gala’s fundraising. For more information, visit https://www.jeffreyosbornefoundation.org/.

“As the name implies, the stars have aligned and the sky is the limit,” expressed Dan Keating, gala MC, Polo captain, and Club President. “After our hugely successful teamwork last year, we are honored to collaborate with Jeffrey Osborne as Honorary Ambassador, and we are thrilled to name BD as presenting sponsor, helping make this year’s event the best of all time.”

Bungee to 41° South for an aurora of sensations from A to Zealand, drawn from the Polynesian archipelago’s geographic and celestial wonders, gourmet delicacies, celebrated wines & elixirs, Maori-Euro arts & culture, and a few stars of our own to match the cosmic glow of their southern lights, for a fitting fête of our Kiwi cousins.

Attire calls for White Formal, in homage to the Long White Cloud, ‘Aotearoa’ as the Maori called New Zealand, whose nimbus corona over its Southern Alps helped early Polynesian navigators as early as the 13th century to find this distant landmass in Oceania’s most remote reaches, where they discovered ‘God’s Own Country’ at the crossflow of 3 of the world’s 5 great ocean currents.

A gala pre-party to meet & greet the guests of honor is in the works to launch the evening’s festivities from a favorite Newport destination, followed by the main event at Rosecliff for sunset ocean views from the terrace with enticing hors d’oeuvres, specialty themed cocktails and a tantalizing Silent Auction of curated exclusives for dueling bidders.  As twilight concedes to the evening’s brightest stars, supporters will delight in live entertainment, a seated 3-course gourmet presentation, and whirlwind Live Auction offering up a quintuplet of the night’s premier opportunities, in the gilded ballroom and salon.  A 10-piece band will not rest ’til the stroke of midnight, when valeted departures will arc like shooting stars to the Skybar, Newport’s VIP stratosphere atop the iconic Clarke Cooke House.

Here is how to greet each other with the expression, Kia Ora!

Sign up to our private & secure guest list to receive event updates by email including the Auction Preview and our Fashion Guide.

Ticketed guests must be 21 or older to attend the gala (or accompanied by a parent or guardian).

Newport Polo’s gala has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to support various worthy nonprofit organizations. For Gala Sponsorship opportunities or Auction donations for the 2022 gala and auction, please direct inquiries to agnes@nptpolo.com.

21 years and counting, the International Polo Charity Ball is the social highlight of the summer, when polo players, enthusiasts, and supporters come together for a lively celebration while supporting various charitable organizations. Festivities carry on through the weekend as the international guests of honor take to the polo field on the following afternoon for the USA vs. New Zealand standoff. Our annual New England Lobster Boil, expertly prepared by the masters from McGrath Clambakes, brings a brilliant conclusion to an extraordinary weekend.  Visit www.nptpolo.com to see all upcoming events.

About BD:  “BD is proud to support the Jeffrey Osborne Foundation and give back to the community that we’ve been a part of for over 100 years,” stated Kevin D. Kelly, Worldwide Surgery President, BD.  For over a century, BD’s Surgery Business Unit, with headquarters and design center in Warwick, RI, is advancing the world of health, employing nearly 300 associates to distribute over $1 billion in medical devices globally.  To learn more, visit www.bd.com.

About Rosecliff:  Rosecliff is the premier estate amidst America’s finest collection of gilded age mansions. Commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899, architect Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles. After the house was completed in 1902, at a reported cost of $2.5 million, Mrs. Oelrichs hosted fabulous entertainments here, including a fairy tale dinner and a party featuring famed magician Harry Houdini.

About Newport Polo:  Newport Polo is the home of the Westchester Polo Club, America’s first polo club, offering exhibition polo and club member services for outdoor & arena polo, and polo instruction. Est. in 1876, charter member of the United States Polo Assoc, and host of the Newport International Polo Series.

Annual Charitable Initiatives:  In its 30 years, Newport Polo is proud to have helped raise over $1.5 million for nonprofit organizations through its gala auction, benefit matches, Season Program ad sales and ticket donations for the Newport International Polo Series, among other fundraising initiatives.  In 2022, Newport Polo’s annual charitable initiatives will include Season Program Ad Sales Scholarship Fund and 2 charity polo matches TBA, among other initiatives in the works. For more information, please email agnes@nptpolo.com.