GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION
2026
Preserving an Iconic Legacy
A Storied Landscape. A Vibrant Future.
Our History: A Legacy of Vision and Stewardship
Great Meadow was born from the bold vision of Arthur W. “Nick” Arundel, a philanthropist, news executive, and lifelong equestrian who believed in preserving open space for public good. In 1982, Arundel purchased an overgrown, swampy dairy farm in The Plains, Virginia, and transformed it into a permanent home for the Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races - averting a planned housing development in the process. Two years later, in 1984, Great Meadow opened to the public as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to conserving land and advancing equestrian sport. Over four decades, it has evolved into a 374-acre hub for world-class competition, cultural celebration, and community connection - welcoming over 200,000 guests annually to experience the thrill of polo, steeplechase, show jumping, fireworks, rocketry, and more. Today, Great Meadow remains a testament to Arundel’s enduring belief that open space, civic pride, and shared tradition are worth protecting - for this generation and the next.
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Our Mission, Vision & Impact
Preserving Open Spaces. Advancing Equestrian Sport. Great Meadow Foundation’s mission is to preserve open space for public benefit and foster a vibrant hub for equestrian sport, outdoor recreation, cultural tradition and community celebration. We envision Great Meadow as a living legacy: A future where protected open spaces and world-class equestrian events enrich lives, connect communities, and sustain the cultural and environmental heritage of Virginia’s Piedmont. What We Do: Pillars of Impact At Great Meadow Foundation, we protect open space, cultivate the region’s rich equestrian heritage, and bring people together. In 2025, our 40th anniversary year, we have been honoring our founding mission and continue to look boldly toward the future. Together with our generous supporters, we’re building a tangible, lasting impact across four strategic pillars:
Equestrian Heritage & Sport
Preservation
Community
Education
PILLAR 1: PRESERVATION
Since its transformation from an overgrown “crayfish field” by founder Arthur W. “Nick” Arundel, Great Meadow has been a living symbol of conservation. In 2025, we maintained the integrity of over 374 acres of open space while hosting 100 unique events— demonstrating how environmental stewardship and public use can mutually thrive. Members, sponsors and partners help us maintain this vital green space as a sanctuary for wildlife, recreation, and future generations. Great Meadow plans to pursue a Dark Sky certification to further advance our goal of preserving the natural beauty of the land and the night sky for both ecological and recreational purposes. 3
PILLAR 2: EQUESTRIAN HERITAGE & SPORT
As a nationally recognized home for equestrian excellence, Great Meadow champions tradition while embracing innovation in the sport. The Virginia Gold Cup, which celebrated its centennial on May 3, 2025, drew over 30,000 spectators. Significant investments were made in 2025 to optimize turf conditions and improve the racecourse, demonstrating our continued commitment to enhancing safety and quality, and making Great Meadow the premier steeplechase course in the nation. Fleming Farm continues to host dozens of equestrian competitions each year, including horse trials, dressage, and jumper shows. In Veterans Stadium, Saturday Night Polo, Twilight Jumpers and the Veterans Cup were crowd-favorites during the 2025 season, offering a spectator-friendly experience complete with tailgating, VIP box seats, and up- close views of exciting equestrian action. Grass Polo featured exciting matches in 2025, including the prestigious National Sporting Library and Museum Polo Classic. Looking ahead, the inaugural Four Nations Cup, planned for spring 2026, is sure to become a new must-attend event for socialites and polo fans around the region.
Donor support ensures that we remain a world-class venue for riders, horses, and spectators alike.
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PILLAR 3: COMMUNITY
Great Meadow is where community spirit comes alive. From regional traditions to new gatherings, we serve as a hub for connection, heritage, and celebration. In 2025 alone, over 200,000 guests joined us for events ranging from the Fourth of July Big Boom (10,000+ attendees) and the Virginia Scottish Games, to cross-country meets, rocket launches, and the annual Veterans Cup, held in the newly dedicated Veterans Stadium to honor service to our country and support charitable causes. New in 2025, the Music in the Meadow concert series brought friends and neighbors together for relaxed summer evenings with local bands and food trucks under the stars. Looking ahead, we plan to expand programming to include weddings, seasonal festivals and events that celebrate the region’s natural, artistic, culinary, and cultural wealth . With your support, Great Meadow will continue to be a gathering place that inspires joy, connection, and civic pride.
PILLAR 4: EDUCATION
Great Meadow also is a platform for experiential learning about land, history, science and horsemanship. Through partnerships with schools, local clubs, and nonprofits, we promote environmental awareness, equestrian and STEM education, athleticism, and civic engagement. The American Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest rocket contest with nearly 5,000 middle and high school students nationwide competing on our grounds each year gaining hands-on experience designing, building, and launching model rockets and solving engineering problems. Through a diversity of programs, our setting provides an expansive classroom under the sky.
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GREAT MEADOW HERITAGE CLUB Enjoy Exclusive Access.
Connect with Community. Make a Lasting Difference.
WHY JOIN US? Beginning in 2026, we’re launching the Great Meadow Heritage Club — a refreshed yearly membership program to welcome new supporters into our circle and ensure sustained support for our mission. Your annual membership isn't just about access. It's about belonging to a community that cherishes the rich natural and cultural heritage of the region and the joy of shared experiences. As a Great Meadow Heritage Club member, you’re helping to sustain one of Virginia’s most iconic gathering places and equestrian venues. Let’s protect its future for generations to come! Preserve What Matters Your annual support helps conserve 374 acres of open space and ensures that Great Meadow remains a sanctuary for recreation, wildlife, and equestrian sport. Today, as 40 years ago, it’s vital to invest in stewardship of the land and
the values it represents. Celebrate Tradition
Great Meadow events and celebrations have deep roots in the community. Membership gives you a front-row seat to cherished traditions - and an
active role in sustaining them. Enjoy Elevated Experiences
Members receive access to curated hospitality options, exclusive gatherings, and advance ticket sales. Whether you’re introducing family members or friends to the thrill of the Gold Cup, enjoying an evening on our Summer House terrace, or simply walking the open fields, your membership unlocks a landscape for life’s most memorable moments. Leave a Legacy Your annual gift ensures that Great Meadow remains a place of natural beauty, distinguished events, and civic pride for years to come. Members are part of a living legacy: individuals and families who define the spirit of our thriving community.
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GREAT MEADOW HERITAGE CLUB Premier Annual Membership Levels
VISIONARY CIRCLE
$50,000
RECOGNITION & BENEFITS Recognition across all four GM signature events (The Big Boom, Veterans Cup, Four Nations Cup, and GMF Annual Gala) Name listed in Great Meadow Annual Impact Report and on website (10) VIP tickets to Great Meadow Foundation Gala (6) VIP tickets to Summer House Parties at Virginia Gold Cup, International Gold Cup, and Big Boom July 4 Celebration (6) VIP tickets to Four Nations Cup
(1) Premium Box (full season) at Great Meadow Polo (1) Premium Box (full season) at Twilight Jumpers Invitation to GM member appreciation events Early ticket access & discounts for select events Heritage Club Member welcome gift
LEGACY PATRON
$25,000
RECOGNITION & BENEFITS Recognition across three GM signature events (The Big Boom, Veterans Cup, and Four Nations Cup or GMF Annual Gala) Name listed in Great Meadow Annual Impact Report and on website (4) VIP tickets to Great Meadow Foundation Gala (4) VIP tickets to Summer House Parties at Virginia Gold Cup, International Gold Cup, and Big Boom July 4 Celebration (4) VIP tickets to Four Nations Cup (1) Premium Box (full season) at Great Meadow Polo (1) Premium Box (full season) at Twilight Jumpers
Invitation to GM member appreciation events Early ticket access & discounts for select events Heritage Club Member welcome gift
MEADOW BENEFACTOR $10,000
RECOGNITION & BENEFITS Recognition at two GM signature events (The Big Boom and Veterans Cup) Name listed in Great Meadow Annual Impact Report and on website (2) VIP tickets to Great Meadow Foundation Gala (4) VIP tickets to Summer House Parties at Virginia Gold Cup, International Gold Cup and Big Boom July 4 Celebration
(1) Premium Box (8 events) at Great Meadow Polo (1) Premium Box (2 events) at Twilight Jumpers Early ticket access & discounts for select events Heritage Club Member welcome gift
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GREAT MEADOW HERITAGE CLUB Sustaining Annual Membership Levels
Conservation Friend $5,000
RECOGNITION & BENEFITS Recognition at one GM signature event (The Big Boom or Veterans Cup) Name listed in Great Meadow Annual Impact Report and on website (2) VIP tickets to Summer House Parties at Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup (1) Tailgate at Big Boom July 4 Celebration
(1) Premium Box (2 events) at Great Meadow Polo (1) Premium Box (1 event) at Twilight Jumpers Early ticket access & discounts for select events Heritage Club Member welcome gift
Heritage Partner $2,500
RECOGNITION & BENEFITS Name listed in Great Meadow Annual Impact Report and on website (2) VIP tickets to Summer House Party at either Virginia Gold Cup or International Gold Cup
(1) Tailgate at Big Boom July 4 Celebration (1) Tailgate (1 event) at Great Meadow Polo Early ticket access & discounts for select events Heritage Club Member welcome gift
Grassroots Member
RECOGNITION & BENEFITS Name listed in Great Meadow Annual Impact Report and on website (1) General Admission car pass to Virginia Gold Cup or International Gold Cup (1) General Admission car pass to Big Boom July 4 Celebration Early ticket access & discounts for select events Heritage Club Member welcome gift
$500
Community Supporter $100 RECOGNITION & BENEFITS Annual GM membership card
Early ticket access & discounts for select events Heritage Club Member welcome gift
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2026 Events Preview
MAY 2
American Rocketry Challenge 2026 National Finals MAY 16
JUNE 14
Virginia Gold Cup
Inaugural Four Nations Cup
Don’t miss Great Meadow’s new signature event: A prestigious international polo tournament celebrating world class competition, iconic style, and global commaraderie.
Music in the Meadow
MAY-SEP
FREE summer concert series!
The Big Boom JULY 4
SATURDAY NIGHTS Thrilling stadium polo and community fun!
Great Meadow Polo MAY-SEP
A community favorite – join our annual Fourth of July celebration & fireworks spectacular!
SEP 5-6
2026 Twilight Jumpers Season
A Jump Above 2026 Season JUN-SEP Schooling jumper show
SEP 13 NSLM Polo Classic
2026 Virginia Scottish Games
MAY-SEP
OCT 11
Great Meadow Annual Gala
OCT 3
Celebrate tradition, honor legacy and support our mission – Roaring Twenties style! Great Meadow’s 2026 gala and fundraiser will be an evening to remember!
30th Annual Hunt Country Classic British Car Show
Cloverleaf Polo Classic SEP 19
SCAN TO SEE ALL EVENTS
OCT 24
NOV 8 Veterans Cup Great Meadow’s premier charity tournament honors and benefits military service members and their families.
International Gold Cup
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GET INVOLVED Become a Great Meadow Heritage Club Member
Choose one of our annual membership levels to enjoy exclusive access, curated experiences, and the reward of supporting a place you love. Join today at https://bit.ly/GMMembership2026 or scan the QR code to sign up:
Donate Not ready to join the club? Every contribution, large or small, directly supports our mission to preserve open space, advance equestrian sport, and bring our community together. Make a one-time or recurring contribution at greatmeadow.org/donate/ Customize Your Impact Looking to align your philanthropy with something personal? We’re happy to create a custom giving or sponsorship package that reflects your values, interests, or charitable focus. Let’s talk! Give Forward Consider including Great Meadow in your estate planning. A planned gift ensures this treasured landscape and its programs remain protected far into the future. Spread the Word Follow us on social media (@GreatMeadow), share your memories using #GreatMeadowVA and #GreatMeadowEvents, and bring a friend to one of our events. Together, we can grow the community that sustains a cherished space for generations to come. Volunteer As a dedicated supporter of our mission, your involvement is crucial in helping us preserve and enhance this unique community space. Whether you're passionate about conservation, events, or simply giving back, your time and talents will make a lasting impact. Sign up at greatmeadow.org/volunteer/
Join us in making a difference at Great Meadow!
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OUR LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FOUNDATION STAFF
Cynthia Jeffery EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHAIR Karen Crane
Abbey Slitor DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
VICE-CHAIR Dulany Morison
TREASURER Richard Spencer
Bethann Beeman BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
SECRETARY Jay Adams
Veronika Zubo MARKETING & PR
Gregory S. Grigorian TRUSTEES Loran Brueggen Peter W. Arundel James G. Davis
GROUNDS STAFF
Bobby Hitton HEAD OF GROUNDS Adel Marquez ASSISTANT HEAD OF GROUNDS Rosalio Cabral GROUNDS ASSISTANT
Thomas McMillen
Paula Michaels
Robert Stryk
Birge Watkins
Great Meadow Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If any goods or services are provided in connection with your membership or sponsorship, the tax-deductible amount will be reduced by the estimated fair market value of those benefits. Great Meadow will provide an annual summary of your contribution and any applicable benefits for tax reporting purposes.
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Scan Me
GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION
Advancing Equestrian Sport
info@greatmeadow.org 540-253-5000 5089 Old Tavern Road The Plains, VA 20198 www.greatmeadow.org
JOIN US!
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