Boys and Girls Club of Chattahoochee Valley holds their 39th annual Upatoi Polo Cup

UPATOI, GA (WTVM) - A decade's long tradition continues in Upatoi, as families and horse lovers celebrate the latest Polo Cup raising money for the local Boys and Girls Club.

With the ball dropped for the bowl- in, hundreds of fans sat back to watch a championship match for the 39th annual Upatoi Polo Cup.

It is a special event the Boys and Girls Club of the Chattahoochee Valley looks forward to hosting every year at Flournoy Farms.

CEO/ President of the Boys and Girls Club of the Chattahoochee Valley Rodney Close says, "Over the past 25 years, this event has raised over $2 million for the Boys and Girls Club, thanks to Mr. John Flournoy and Mr. Mason Lampton, who actually started the event years ago."

Generations of families taking advantage of the hot but dry September weather to watch competitive polo and enjoy food from local restaurants while shopping for handmade art which are all ways the Boys and Girls Club is funding next year's programs.

"Our staff plays a big role in it. We recruit a lot of volunteer, they help throughout the evet with the silent auction, folks are looking to coming back already next year in 2019," says Close.

The money raised today for the Boys and Girls Club will fund specific programs helping kids through education, healthy lifestyles and leadership-character development.

Mary Lu Lampton, event announcer says, ""There's so many things for all the families to participate in - it's just a great day for families to be outside, having a good time, and everybody should be out here enjoying this outdoor event."

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