Star-studded Baltimore waterfront celebration blends professional polo, live music and aviation legacy to inspire next generation of aviators
BALTIMORE — The thunderous hooves of polo ponies, the soulful rhythm of live jazz and the legacy of American heroes will converge along Baltimore’s waterfront when the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) takes center stage as the primary beneficiary of the 10th Annual Celebrity Charity PoloXJazz Celebration, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 23 at the scenic Baltimore Peninsula.
Produced by Grandiosity Events in partnership with The Law Offices of Duane O. King, PC, the milestone celebration will donate a portion of proceeds to support ECCTAI’s mission of preserving the legacy of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen while inspiring youth to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace sciences.
Part cultural showcase, part sporting spectacle, PoloXJazz has grown into one of the MidAtlantic’s most distinctive charity events, bringing together civic leaders, business executives, aviation advocates and community supporters for a day of polo, music and purpose.
Adding Hollywood star power, acclaimed actor Clifton Powell will host the afternoon’s festivities, guiding guests through a high-energy program featuring professional polo matches, live jazz performances, curated cuisine and appearances by family members of the original Tuskegee Airmen.
For ECCTAI, the partnership represents a powerful investment in youth development and aviation education, which comes at a time of renewed focus on underrepresentation in certain communities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Black Americans make up roughly 12% of the U.S. labor force, yet they represent only about 3% to 4% of aircraft pilots and flight engineers, according to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
ECCTAI is working to improve those numbers through education, mentorship and representation. The investment from donors — State Employees Credit Union, Arturo Fuente Cigars, Toyota and other organizations — will help fund scholarships and flight-training opportunities, a financial lifeline for aspiring professionals facing the high cost of entry into aviation careers, and the first step for students seeking careers in aviation and aerospace professions.
“We are deeply grateful for this investment in our chapter’s mission and, most importantly, in our young people,” said H. Thomas “Tommy” Herndon Jr., president of ECCTAI. “By honoring the courage and excellence of the Tuskegee Airmen through opportunities like this, we can help students see new horizons and prepare for careers in aerospace, engineering and beyond.”
Susan Smallwood, founder and CEO of Grandiosity Events and creator of PoloXJazz, made history as the first woman of color in the U.S. to own a premium caviar brand, La Grande Caviar, and produce an event with all-Black polo players. She has transformed PoloXJazz into a nationally recognized platform showcasing elite Black polo players and expanding visibility for diversity in equestrian sports.
“This 10th anniversary represents a decade of partnership, purpose and cultural pride,” Smallwood said. “We are proud to celebrate this milestone while continuing to invest in organizations like ECCTAI that are inspiring the next generation of leaders. Grandiosity Events’ mission is to bring culture to the cultures with GRAND experiences through philanthropy. From the ground to the sky, we are investing in teaching underrepresented kids how to fly. Ooh la la!”
The connection between the Tuskegee Airmen and the polo field reflects a shared story of breaking barriers. While the Tuskegee Airmen shattered myths of racial inferiority in military aviation during World War II, Black polo players have carried forward a proud tradition of equestrian excellence dating back to the U.S. cavalry units of the 19th century, the Buffalo Soldiers.
Together, those histories of perseverance and achievement will be celebrated throughout the day’s festivities.
Gates open at noon, with the polo match at 3 p.m. The evening concludes with a waterfront after-party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring music by DJ Vytas Reid, morning meteorologist at CBS News Detroit. The celebration will be emceed by Shawn Yancy, award-winning anchor with NBC4 Washington.
Tickets and additional information for this milestone event are available at evite.
About East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.:
Founded in 1973, the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) is the oldest and largest chapter of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. ECCTAI has more than 150 members from diverse backgrounds, which include Tuskegee Airmen heritage-kindred descendants, active-duty and retired military, civil servants and private citizens from all walks of life. At one time, the chapter included more than 50 Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, combat veterans of World War II who received their military training at Tuskegee, Alabama. ECCTAI provides educational assistance scholarships to students and produces a Youth in Aviation Program that preserves the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy and supports workforce development initiatives in underserved and underrepresented communities. ECCTAI’s geographical focus area is the District of Columbia and its surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia.
About Grandiosity Events:
Founded by Susan Smallwood, Grandiosity Events is a luxury event-planning company known for curating experiences that blend entertainment, philanthropy, and education with cultural sophistication. Smallwood is also the creator of La Grande Caviar, making history as the first woman of color in the U.S. to own a premium caviar brand. Through her signature event PoloXJazz, Smallwood is also the first woman of color to build a powerful platform that combines style and excellence, Black equestrian polo players, live jazz and charitable giving.
###
