Soroptimist International Barbados jumpstarts fundraising efforts with charity polo match

Speaking with Barbados TODAY as the Chukkas for Charity event got underway at the Barbados Polo Club, Holder’s Hill, St James, President Amanda Lynch-Foster said as it had been unable hold any events since 2020, its first annual polo fundraiser was well received by those in attendance.

“It’s really great to see the turnout today. We have partnered with the Barbados Polo Club and they included this charity event in their list of activities for this season and we have had great support and are really heartened by it. In addition to the polo match, we have a silent auction going on so people can bid for great prizes and all of this goes to support our programmes and activities,” she said.

These include the Soroptimist Village in Eden Lodge, the Hildegarde Weekes Activity Centre, the Period Dignity programme, New Horizons Mentorship programme, the Frances Chandler Memorial Award, and a UWI scholarship programme.

“We are already in a position to make a profit based on the ticket revenue and our sponsorship from FirstCaribbean International Bank and we are truly happy about that because for the past few years, we have been spending money and when you are a charity things do not stop just because you are not making money. Our Soroptimist Village has 22 units that we have to maintain so there are plumbing repairs, electric repairs and other types of repairs that have to be done but the money that was coming in was not the same as before, so we are very grateful to be able to have this fundraiser for the first time in a long time,” she said.

At the end of the event, team Soroptimist International delivered a 6 – 4.5 win over Barbados Polo Club. (JB)