NEWS

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. On November 1, 2013, teams4taps was launched - an initiative to create meaningful opportunities for families of the fallen to engage with the teams they cheered for with their fallen hero. Former official Bob Delaney, and now NBA’s Vice President of Referee Development and Performance introduced USPA Umpires, LLC to TAPS after an umpire meeting with 25 USPA professional umpires at the Lake Worth offices last spring. The NBA along with many other sport associations bring a TAPS family to a sports event, where the family is introduced to the officials and then watches the game.

USPA Umpires, LLC teamed up with TAPS to bring three survivors to their first polo game on Sunday, August 21 at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (SBPRC) in Carpinteria, California. SBPC’s Polo Manager Melanja Jones generously donated box seats to the survivors. The guests were treated to a tailgate lunch at the 12:00pm game of the Pacific Coast Open’s 16-goal tournament before heading to the stands to watch the featured 3:00pm game. Professional umpire Julian Appleby, came by after the noon game to spend time with the survivors and answer questions about polo. It was a spectacular day at the club, with the sport of polo gaining four more lifelong fans.