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“I wanted to bring horses back to Tally Ho. And two of my committee members, Linda Hollister and Louise Rockhold, came up with the same idea. Bingo! We had a polo match!,” says Tally Ho director Diane Bottoms.
“Tally Ho Jazzes Up Polo!” is the theme for the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary’s benefit for Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, which takes place Saturday, September 9, at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton.
The benefit honors Dr. Harvey Cohen, who is retiring from 13 years as chief of staff of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital to devote his time to research and pediatric practice.
A polo match is only one of several innovations in the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary’s annual benefit for the hospital. Another first is the appearance of jazz musician Chuck Mangione in concert at 6 p.m. at the Circus Club.
And, instead of a traditional dinner, wine and “hearty hors d’oeuvres” will be served after the polo match and before the concert. The evening will conclude with a dessert buffet and single malt tasting.
The polo match at 2 p.m. harks back to Tally Ho’s origins. A traditional all-day three-ring horse show was the main event at the benefit for almost 50 years. Even the name “Tally Ho” is horse-related: It refers to the cry of a hunter on sighting the prey in a fox hunt.
The polo match will be played between teams from the Menlo Polo Club. Dave Dollinger, the club’s team consultant and coordinator, is arranging the match and the Polo Club is bringing in (at its own expense) a professional polo announcer, Tony Gregg, from Calgary, Canada.
Strawberries and champagne
At midpoint, a 30-minute intermission, there will be a demonstration by the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy of Woodside. This will be followed by a traditional “Divot Stomp,” where champagne and strawberries are served and guests go out on the field to “stomp” down the divots.
When women ask Tally Ho committee member Marlene Belstock what to wear for the event, she tells them to check out People magazine to see what Prince William’s girlfriend wears to polo matches.
After the polo match, the party continues on the Circus Club terrace. Many local restaurants are providing hors d’oeuvres including John Bentley’s, Left Bank, Sultana, Mike’s Cafe, Chantilly and Bucks of Woodside. Donors from several local wineries will pour for the wine tasting.
Lissa Kreisler of KBAY 104.6 will be auctioneer for the live auction held before Mr. Mangione’s concert.
Chuck Mangione
Trumpeter Chuck Mangione has been a celebrity since the 1970s. Some of his biggest hits were “Chase the Clouds Away” and “Feels So Good.” He attributes much of his style to Dizzy Gillespie, whom he calls his “musical father.”
After the concert, the Palo Alto Hills Country Club, the Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay, and the 231 Ellsworth restaurant in San Mateo will provide dessert. There will also be music by Forte.
Diane Bottoms of Palo Alto is Tally Ho director. Local women on her committee are: Jean Lamb and Sue Chaput from Portola Valley; Marcia Kashnow, Alicia Seebold and Jackie Holmkvist from Atherton; and Sally Knorp from Menlo Park.
Proceeds from Tally Ho will be used to fund a pediatric-obstetric telemedicine center at Children’s Hospital.
INFORMATION: The 56th Tally Ho benefit for Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital begins at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 9, at the Menlo Circus Club, 190 Park Lane in Atherton. A gold ticket covers the polo match, cocktail party, concert and dessert party for $150 per person. A silver ticket covers the polo match and cocktail party or cocktail party, concert, and dessert party for $100. For tickets and information, call 1-877-Tally Ho or go to waacharity.org.