A community celebration with a powerful purpose is coming to west Georgia as Tanner Health Foundation prepares to host its inaugural Tanner Polo Classic on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Occurring at the 100-acre Adams Farm in Carrollton, the event will feature an afternoon of world-class polo, food, drinks and community fun — all in support of Tanner’s expanding heart and vascular services. Proceeds will benefit the Adams Heart Center and heart and vascular care at Tanner Health, ensuring that more people across the region have access to advanced cardiovascular treatment close to home.
“The Tanner Polo Classic is an opportunity for the community to celebrate the success of cardiac care at Tanner Health,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health. “The cardiac program at the Adams Heart Center has positively touched many patients and families across the region. The Tanner Polo Classic is an opportunity to celebrate those experiences and look to the exciting future of heart and vascular care in our region.”
The Tanner Polo Classic is hosted by Steve Adams, a long-time polo enthusiast and member of Tanner’s board of directors, in partnership with Tanner Health Foundation. The match will take place at Adams’ farm, where he is helping bring the event to life.
“I love the sport of polo, and I’m excited to introduce it to more people in west Georgia," said Adams. "I look forward to this event benefiting Tanner Health and the Adams Heart Center.”
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Georgia; it is responsible for more than 28,000 deaths each year, which is roughly one in every three deaths statewide. Even more alarming, most of these deaths are considered premature and preventable, contributing to more than 165,000 years of potential life lost annually.
The Adams Heart Center at Tanner Health is rising to meet the challenge head-on. In 2024, the health system saw more than 6,000 hospital admissions for heart-related conditions, and more than 23,500 people received heart and vascular care at the center — up from 22,100 the previous year.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the Adams Heart Center provided more than 6,000 cardiac rehab visits and performed more than 700 cardiac interventions. Tanner Health has completed more than 240 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries since January 2023, and it regularly conducts more than 21,000 heart and vascular imaging studies annually. Along with these services, the center supported more than 61,000 outpatient visits, diagnostic tests and rehab sessions, helping patients recover, manage chronic conditions and improve long-term outcomes.
Those numbers prove that heart disease affects more than just individuals — it impacts families, workplaces and the well-being of the entire community. That’s why Tanner is committed to expanding access to compassionate, cutting-edge heart care for the region through the Adams Heart Center.
“For nearly four decades, Tanner Health Foundation has been propelled and empowered by the generosity of our community to live out our mission of advancing health care access and excellence right here at home,” said Nichole Fannin, executive director of Tanner Health Foundation. “Support from the Adams family — and from many partners and supporters across our region who champion this mission alongside us — is what fuels continued advancements in care for our community.”
Sponsorship interest in the Tanner Polo Classic has been overwhelming. As of mid-June, all sponsorship levels have sold out. General admission tickets are available and can be purchased online.
To learn more about the event or to purchase general admission tickets, visit https://www.tanner.org/tanner-health-foundation/foundation-events/tanner-polo-classic.
To explore naming opportunities for Tanner Heart Care, prospective donors may visit https://www.tanner.org/upload/docs/PDFs/Foundation/Foundation-Cardiac%20Naming%20Opportunities-2023%20Edits%20NDF[20].pdf.