People pull together for the Chicas for Charity 2023 event

The 2023 Chicas for Charity event on the grounds of the Yucatán Polo Club brought together a light-hearted match and a festive creative hat contest. Top center, Kimberly Davin-DeGraff, founder of the event, and friends present a trophy: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Nearly 1,000 people turned out to the Yucatán Polo Club on Saturday for Yucatán Giving’s annual Chicas for Charity match.

The 2023 Chicas for Charity event on the grounds of the Yucatán Polo Club brought together a light-hearted match and a festive creative hat contest. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Looming clouds and faint drizzle eventually gave way to a glorious afternoon of majestic horses, great food and a fun-filled creative hat contest.

The 2023 Chicas for Charity event on the grounds of the Yucatán Polo Club attracted players from several countries. Photo: Thom Schoepfer

Six polo teams from around the world competed on the massive green field while the dressed-up crowd enjoyed libations and food from various local restaurants set up under tents.

The 2023 Chicas for Charity event on the grounds of the Yucatán Polo Club brought together a light-hearted match and a festive creative hat contest. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

The Colectivo Bazaar and local artisans offered items for sale while others bid for artwork and other goods or services at the silent auction.

The 2023 Chicas for Charity event on the grounds of the Yucatán Polo Club brought together a light-hearted match and a festive creative hat contest. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Yucatán Magazine was a proud Silver-level sponsor of the event. We offered gifts with subscriptions to our quarterly magazine, including umbrellas, which would have been useful if the skies had opened up. Happily, the weather cooperated, and we can offer our brollies again when the rainy season nears.

The fifth edition of the charity event was the first since November 2019. Proceeds, which totaled 158,506 pesos (over US$8,000), will help the most vulnerable people in the Yucatán community through various charitable organizations.

Event founder Kimberly Davin-DeGraff thanked her CFC partner of five years Fabienne O’Neill, for being “an absolute rockstar!”

Managing partners Chucho Solorzano and Marcelino Fernandez Vaca were also acknowledged for being “a joy to work with” and donating 10,000 pesos to the event.

“Thank you to the ever-generous Yvonne Lezinski for letting us use the Yucatan Polo Club,” she said.

Event sponsors, aside from Yucatán Magazine, inclused Easy Legal Mexico, Merida Living Real Estate, Xootrip Rent A Car, and Don Fixxer.

The event was run by a team including Luz Maria Hernandez Baños, Mace PM, Alejandra Tamayo, Maria Teresa Dorantes Mendez and Hailey DeGraff. Volunteer photographer from Conch Creative, Maya Papovic, captured the event. Lea Garza performed. preforming at this year’s event and Rodrigo Rodriguez emceed the hat competition, which was judged by Shannon Murray, Brie Castell and MID CityBeat’s Stephanie Carmon.

“Thank you to everyone who made a hat,” said Davin-DeGraff. “You all looked gorgeous.”

Food vendors Mary Valle, Lichito, Zinc Comfort Food Merida, Mike’s Kitchen, Anita’s Sausages kept the croud fed.

The 5th Chukker Bar was run by Keli Davin, Anke Koolen and Kimberly Melmoth.

Deborah Dunn kept track of the finances.

“This year’s money will continue to support victims and those in need,” Davin-DeGraff said.

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