Mothers never likes to admit to favorites. Nor does a humanitarians. But, Jean Shafiroff has been an extremely devoted and record breaking fundraiser for Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. As a chair, an honoree — with husband Martin — and SHF trustee, she has raised more than seven million dollars.
Jean also loves to throw a party. Ever since they rebuilt their estate section home, the Shafiroffs have been hosting a pre-Hospital gala bash to get the summer fundraising going. “If you have to give to just one charity,” she always says, “this is it. A community is only as good as its health care. And the hospital never turns anyone away.”
The merger with Stony Brook Hospital continues to bring changes. Julia McCormack joined as Southampton Hospital Foundation President and Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) Chief Development Officer in March. Emily Mastaler became Chief Administrative Officer of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Southampton Hospital Association President in May.
Sarah Wetenhall and Elena Ford (both on hospital boards) will co-chair the Summer Party. Wetenhall, as we all know, is the secret sauce that made the Colony Hotel the heart of Palm Beach next gen social, when she and her husband took it over.
Favorite band leader Alex Donner serenaded. Among those enjoying: This year’s honorees Father Alexander Karloutsos and Dr. Daniel Van Arsdale, co-chair husbands Andrew Wetenhall and Mitch Seldin and Mastaler’s husband, Jon McAuliffe. They were joined by Southampton Hospital Association board members including chair Jim Forbes and wife Hollis, treasurer John Wambold and Summer Party Legacy Chair Melanie Wambold, and directors, J. Oscar Molina and his wife, Ana Harsanyi, Dr. Florence Rolston, and Allison Morrow.
Other notable attendees included SHF Vision board member Elizabeth Bowden, Lisa Crawford, SHF Vision board member Kingsley Crawford, Leslie and Katerina Feldman, Alan Glatt, Henry and Barbara Gooss, former Chair Ann Grimm, John Hadlock, Peter Hallock, Debbie and Noel Hare, Sylvia Hemingway, Raya and Clifton Knight, Sheila and Steven Landsberg, Ann Liguori, Nancy Jane and Jeffrey Loewy, Patty Kraus, Fern Mallis, Ellen Hermanson Foundation Co-Founder Julie Ratner, and Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright.
Like the community it serves, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) keeps growing. In recent years, it has expanded to include such facilities as The Phillips Family Cancer Center, the Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart & Stroke Center, the Ellen Hermanson Breast Health Center, The Center for Advanced Wound Healing, Wellness Institute, and 32 satellite care centers throughout the South Fork. The hospital represents 48 medical specialties and offers clinical services that range from primary medical care to specialized surgical procedures, including cardiac catheterization, orthopedics and bariatrics. It’s the sole provider of emergency care on the South Fork, via the The Jenny & John Paulson Emergency Department. And a new East Hampton Satellite Emergency Department is in the works.
So, there’s a lot to raise money for!
The next night’s party also supported quality health care. The 20th Annual Hamptons Happening to benefit the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation was once again held on Maria and Ken Fishel’s Bridghampton grounds, its sloping field large enough to accommodate the tent for 400, parking and still not see the property perimeter … although it was a foggy night!
Mark D. Friedman of Brown Harris Stevens and Jamie Koff, Fabric to Finish, chaired with co- chair Bess Freedman and Journal Chair Erica Linden-Fineberg.
The event committee included Alexandra Adame, Karen Amster-Young, Chris Arlotta, Arthur Backal, Antonella Bertello, Dawn Celovsky, Deanna Ceriano, Priscila Chateau, Natalie Cohen Gould, Maxine Danowitz, Maria Fishel, Elena Gibbs, Latifa Hamra, Leslie Keidan, Dina Koutroumanis, Norah Lawlor, Lori & Scott Levine, Jessica Mackin-Cipro, Gennaro Pecchia, Christine Prydatko, Susan Santoro, Randi Schatz, Liana Silverstein, and Chelsea Whitney.
In the beginning of his practice, Waxman’s expertise saved a cancer stricken youngster’s life. You should have your own foundation, the boy’s father told him — and made it happen. Today, that foundation continues to save lives by connecting cutting edge research around the world.
They put their money where our mouths are at this gala, with gourmet tasting stations circling the tented dining area. It’s an orgy of gourmet goodies that for me, concludes with a walk of shame back to the car.
The day of discipline that follows is thanks to samplings from Chef Francois Payard, Bellissima Prosecco & Wines, Nadel, Arlotta Food Studio, El Verano, Deeky Dawg, a La ModeShoppe, Magnolia Bakery, 317 Main Street, Little Sesame, David Burke Hospitality Management, Backal Hospitality Group, Versa, Riverpark, Lulu Kitchen & Bar, T-Bar, East Hampton Shucker Company, Dough Doughnuts, Amante 1530, Horse Soldier Bourbon, Night Inn Experience, Scott’s Protein Balls, Elegant Affairs, Wolfer Estates Vineyard, Good Eats, and Taco Mahal.
It was Waxman’s biggest summer fundraiser of the decade, bringing in $450,000.
The evening honored Arthur F. Backal (Chief Executive Officer, Backal Hospitality Group, Chef Francois Payard (Southold Social), Cheri Kaufman (CEO C iGive, Founding Partner, Kaufman Astoria Studios), Stephen Kliegerman (President, Development Marketing, Brown Harris Stevens), Fern Mallis (NYFW Founder, Fern Mallis LLC), and DJ CherishTheLuv (Broadway Co-Producer & DJ, 2024 Tony Nominated “Here Lies Love”).
The following weekend brought fireworks, thanks to The Southampton Fresh Air Home’s (SFAH) 37th Annual Picnic. Somehow the sky cleared just as the picnic began, and their Fireworks by Grucci display lit it up for the more than 600 guests who attended the family affair, as well as the community at large, watching in adjacent beaches, houses and parties.
It takes place on the Meadow Lane home of honorees Danielle and David Ganek. SFAH President Ann Yawney and Cathy Price, a Board Chair, welcomed all.
Event Chairmen were: Nicky and Jamie Grant, Pam and Bill Michaelcheck, Cathy and Malcolm Price, Barbara and Randall D. Smith, Mimi and Andy Crawford, Lise and Michael Evans, Tania and Brian Higgins, Bronwen GP Smith, Ashley and Victor Wu, Susan and Chris Golden, Stephanie and Steve Hessler, Liza and Shaw Joseph, Pamela and John Kern, Christl and Kenny Meszkat. Among the many guests were Gabrielle Bacon, Dennis Basso, Tory Burch and Candace Bushnell. Darren Ottati sang the national anthem.
It’s always family-centric, with carnival booths, a bouncy castle, a pizza truck, arts and crafts, stilt walkers, cotton candy, popcorn, live music, a silent disco on headphones — and a picnic styled buffet for all ages.
All to benefit the Southampton Fresh Air Home, a year-round center that gives children with physical disabilities, a camping experience and an extended family to foster self-esteem, maturity and independence. It’s also a vacation for their loving parents.
And so we find ourselves in the white hot center of the summer. Many of us are wondering, how did we get here so quickly?! Many of us are asking would-be houseguest to wait til September. And out here, all of us are asking how long are we going to have to wait to make that left turn?
