HISTORIC RICHMOND FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PRESERVATION HUNT TO
PROMOTE THEIR NEW FUNDRAISER, THE FIRST "SHIRLEY POLO CUP,"
SPONSORED BY MCGEORGE MERCEDES BENZ

Shirley Polo Cup tickets will go on sale Thursday, May 15th

May 14th, 2003, Richmond, VA – Historic Richmond Foundation (HRF) has partnered with the Shirley Plantation Polo Club and Shirley Plantation to present the first HRF Shirley Polo Cup, sponsored by McGeorge Mercedes Benz, on June 21, 2003. To promote the new fundraiser, HRF will hide 10 polo balls at sites they have had a hand in preserving or protecting in Richmond by noon on May 15th. Each polo ball will have a number that corresponds to a prize, the biggest of which is a grand prize from Schwarzschild. Additional prizes include premiere tickets to the event, dinner at Acapella in Church Hill, lunch at Chez Foushee, and more. Winners must bring their ball to HRF’s headquarters at 4 E. Main Street to claim their prize.

Sites included in the hunt are, in Church Hill, the Mews alley, Superior Warehouse, Carrington Row, Elmira Shelton House; in Monroe Ward, Linden Row Inn, HRF’s headquarters, Mayo-Carter House, the Stewart-Lee House; in Capitol Square, Morson’s Row and Old City Hall; the Byrd Park Pump House, the Superintendent’s House in Hollywood Cemetery, the National Theatre on Broad Street and the Canal. Addresses for each site can be found on www.historicrichmond.com.

"The Preservation Hunt is a fun way to educate the public on the many projects that HRF has a hand in preserving, while underscoring the need for us to raise money through this event so that we may continue our important work," said Katie Taylor, development and public relations manager for HRF.

The Shirley Polo Cup event on Saturday, June 21st includes an 8-Goal Polo Match, the traditional divet stomping, a long-ball contest, tailgate and tent parties, and a carriage parade. Corporate sponsors will enjoy field-side tents next to the James River and Shirley Plantation. Tickets to the Players tent in the corporate area, sponsored by HRF, are $75/person, which includes food and beverage. General admission attendees can reserve field-side umbrella tables for $50 a table or a tailgate space for $250. The event is open to the public; tickets are $20 per person in advance and $25 at the gate. Ticket locations are listed on the website and can also be purchased through HRF by calling 804.643.7407 or through www.shirleypolocup.com.

"HRF has a reputation for producing premiere events, such as The Races at Marengo in the 90s, and the Shirley Cup will be the ideal way for corporations to offer their clients and employees elegant summer entertainment on a beautiful landscape," said Taylor. "We’ll also have a boutique table that will promote HRF's projects in Richmond and hopefully inspire event guests to learn more about the wealth of architecture in the city."

HRF’s Quoit Club will sponsor a post-match party at the Player’s Tent with music by NrG Krysys at 4:00pm. Tickets are $15/ person. The Quoit Club is a youthfully-minded group that tours historic buildings that are closed to the public once a month. A creative black tie at Upper Shirley, c.1867, will kick off the weekend on Friday, June 20, 2003 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $95/person for the black tie. Proceeds from the Shirley Polo Cup will raise money for the Foundation.

"As the oldest plantation in Virginia, Shirley is a nice complement to HRF’s mission of historic preservation in Richmond," said Don Charles, executive director of Historic Richmond Foundation. "This event will be instrumental to our fundraising efforts."

Platinum sponsors of the event are Hunton & Williams, Schwarzschild, Waste Management; gold sponsors are Commonwealth Event Company and The Rutherfoord Companies; silver sponsors are Prosperity Mortgage, Kaufman & Canoles and BB&T. Media sponsors are WWBT NBC 12 and Style Weekly.

About Historic Richmond Foundation
Founded in 1956, HRF continues to be one of the most critical institutions in preserving Richmond’s historic architectural heritage. Major projects include Church Hill, Old City Hall, Linden Row, the National Theatre and a pending effort concerning the Byrd Park Pump House. HRF recently announced a new vision for Monroe Ward, having already saved the 200th block of Franklin years ago. HRF is located in a newly-renovated 1836 Greek Revival house at 4 East Main Street. Through their Quoit Club, HRF offers exclusive access and tours of Richmond’s most historic sites undergoing restoration.

About Shirley Plantation
At Shirley Plantation, history has been a guest here for eleven generations. Shirley Plantation is the oldest plantation in Virginia (1613) and the oldest family-owned business in North America (1638). The current residents of this 365-year-old agricultural business are descendants of the original owners. Anne Hill Carter, mother of General Robert E. Lee, was born and married at Shirley. Shirley Plantation is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Admission is required to tour the house and grounds. Shirley has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

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Katie Taylor
Development and Public Relations Manager
Historic Richmond Foundation
4 E.Main St. Richmond, VA 23219
804.643.7407x18, 804.937.9753 cell
ktaylor@historicrichmond.com
*For more information on HRF's Shirley Polo Cup,
sponsored by McGeorge Mercedes Benz,
go to www.shirleypolocup.com

Historic Richmond Foundation - The William Byrd Branch of APVA Preservation Virginia