$30,000, 20-goal polo match at La Bourgogne will benefit charitable foundation
Sep. 6—A cause close to David Meunier's heart is the reason for the $30,000 AFM Give Me Wings Charity Polo Match.
The 20-goal game will be held at 3 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Meunier's La Bourgogne Club de Polo.
Proceeds will benefit the AFM Give Me Wings Foundation, which Meunier founded to honor the memory of his son, Anthony Francois Meunier, who died last August at the age of 22 in a single-vehicle accident.
The foundation has two missions.
One is to provide funding for in-person grief therapy services for families who have lost a child.
"Regardless of our social status or origin, we are all equal in facing these tragedies," Meunier said. "There are many groups [that offer services], but nothing is as effective as one-on-one therapy. We will pay for these private sessions for families who cannot afford it.
"It will be a national thing," he added, "but it's going to be available around here, of course."
The foundation's other mission is to offer clinics for young drivers taught by veteran professional race car drivers.
"Too many kids in America who get their licenses, the first thing they want to do is they want to get a Camaro, they want to get a Corvette," Meunier said. "They have no skill whatsoever to drive these killing machines. They absolutely don't."
During the clinics, participants will learn "not how to drive fast," but "how to drive properly and not put themselves into a situation where they potentially could get killed," Meunier said. "We also want to teach them the techniques to get out of a bad situation so we can potentially save their lives. That is the goal."
Individual tickets for the AFM Give Me Wings match cost $155. Tables for eight and field side-tailgate boxes also are available.
For more information, visit afmgivemewings.com/attend or email info@afmgivemewings.com.
Those interested in sponsorship opportunities should email BrookeWillis@gmail.com.
La Bourgogne is at 1150 Coleman Bridge Road between Aiken and Wagener.
The fall polo season at the venue is scheduled to begin Sept. 22 and will continue through Nov. 11.
The Coupe Charles Combier 102 polo match is scheduled for Sept. 23. The event is named in honor of Aiken resident and centenarian Charles Combier, who is a native of France.
The Chukkers of Hope White Party and Polo Match will be held Sept. 30. The game will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs.
For more information about La Bourgogne and the polo competitions held there, visit the La Bourgogne Club de Polo LLC page on Facebook.
There also is a Chukkers of Hope page on Facebook.
