December 17th, 2014 
Top-AnnaMarie Russell, Judith Aronson, Cindy Swinford, Wendy Devineni. bottom- Mary A. Burnham, Allyson Ayensworth, Joanne Taylor and Dena Miller. Photo by Dewayne Swinford
On Friday, December 6, 2014, the Ladies Polo Auxiliary of Texas held it’s 10th annual holiday brunch where Cindy Swinford was honored as the years Most Outstanding Lady. Cindy and her husband Dewayne can be found most Saturdays at Prestonwood Polo Club setting up for and co-hosting charity and social events with other members of the LPA. Founded in 2005 by a small group of women dedicated to the sport of polo , the Ladies Polo Auxiliary has grown to include not only polo playing women, mothers and wives of players but also fans of the sport and women looking to give back to their communities in a fun and non stressful manner. Prestonwood Polo Club affords this women’s group a venue to host such annual events as Polo on the Lawn, Polo For the Planet and Polo on the Midway as well as more casual social, corporate and family events.
LPA president Dena Miller made important 2015 announcements regarding next years events. North Texas premier Kentucky Derby Day event, Polo on the Lawn Chairs Allyson Aynesworth and Dena Miller are thrilled to be partnering with new beneficiary, Café Momentum. A 2014 recipient of Crystal Charity Ball funds, Café Momentum was founded by Chef Chad Houser . Café Momentum serves young men assigned to Dallas County Youth Village (ages 13-17) deemed undeserving by society and trapped in a cycle of crime and punishment to find hope and opportunity through Café Momentum. Together with Youth Village Resources of Dallas, the idea is to get them back to the real world providing job skills, mentors, networking opportunities and a new-found sense of worth. “When you start an idea with ‘I want to open a restaurant with juvenile delinquents and let them play with knives and fire’, people think you’re crazy.”-says Houser. Café Momentum has been operating as a series of pop up brunches and dinners but Construction is underway for a full-service restaurant in downtown Dallas. It will be at 1510 Pacific at Akard on Thanks-Giving Square, with easy access to public transportation for students. LPA is thrilled to be raising funds through their most prestigious event of the year to help accomplish Chef Housers dream.
Britt Harless returns to Chair Polo For the Planet for a second year, joined by LPA’s newest member Mary A. Burnham. Britt and Mary make a perfect pair to produce the Ladies annual “green” event, meant to promote all things environmentally friendly. Britt is with the National Go Solar Foundation and Mary is Chairman and CEO at Burnham Green Oil, Inc. NGSF’s goal is to increase the collaboration between university teams and industry leaders in the study of solar energy. The purpose is to raise environmental awareness and spread education. BGO offers safe and convenient recycling services for industrial enterprises, large-scale commercial operations, governmental agencies and small businesses by safely buying, selling and transporting used oil, fuel and lubricants for fleet vehicles, ships and aircraft. Automotive oil recycling involves the recycling of used oils and the creation of new products from the recycled oils, and includes the recycling of motor oil and hydraulic oil. Oil recycling also benefits the environment: increased opportunities for consumers to recycle oil lessens the likelihood of used oil being dumped on lands and in waterways. For example, one gallon of motor oil dumped into waterways has the potential to pollute one million gallons of water. These two ladies know what they are doing when it comes to being Green!
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas will again be the recipient of Polo on the Midway in it’s 11th year. Wendy Devineni has chaired this event twice in the past decade and comes back to join Lisa Modur for her second year. The annual causal county fair themed event boasts pony rides, petting zoo, carnival games and live entertainment. Lisa brought the Avant Chamber Ballet to the event this year and it was a huge hit. Next year falls on Halloween as it did one of Wendy’s years, where she incorporated the holiday into the event and added costume contests for kids, Trunk or Treat and a piñata. With these two girls collaborating, anything can happen and we’re excited to see what they come up with! In any event, you can count on the Rolls Royce Club opening the event with the parade of cars and a car show as they have for 7 years now. This event truly has something for everybody.
To join the Ladies Polo Auxiliary or to sponsor any of the 2015 events email pr@prestonwoodpolo.com. Remember, “Polo is a passport to THE world.”-Winston Churchill.