WASHINGTON — Tareq and Michaele Salahi’s signature social event, the annual Land Rover America’s Polo Cup, bills itself as the “world’s most prestigious and largest . . . charity polo event,” benefiting the Salahi-run charity Journey for the Cure. Its next U.S. gala is scheduled for June.
But many sponsors listed by America’s Cup for 2010 — including Land Rover, Cartier, the St. Regis Hotel and the Ritz- Carlton Hotel Co. — say they are not sponsors for that event. Many vendors at previous events said the Salahis have not paid for their services in the event’s three-year history, expenses totaling about $500,000.
Tareq Salahi told The Washington Post last year that the 2007 event raised $250,000 for charity.
The Journey for the Cure Foundation — the event’s beneficiary — donated $15,000 to its stated causes in 2007, financial disclosure forms show, and none since. The foundation failed to register with state regulators for four years. The foundation registered two weeks ago and its website lists $0.00 in online donations so far this year.
The Salahis are shown as the only executives of both America’s Polo Cup and the nonprofit foundation. Neither the Salahis nor their attorney returned phone or e-mail requests for comment for the past two days. The Washington Post
