Leading Young Friends of Save Venice into a new era of charitable giving is philanthropist and activist Lizzie da Trindade-Asher who chaired Let’s Spritz! at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Supporting one of the top charities in New York City, Lizzie Asher helped to relaunch the Young Friends of Save Venice Initiative, determined to unite a younger generation of philanthropists and reawaken the institution of charitable giving. Save Venice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to the restoration and preservation of historical artworks and architecture of Venice, Italy.
Notable attendees included: Lizzie da Trindade-Asher, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Adelina Wong, Casey Kohlberg, Ashlee Harrison, Olivia Perez, Timo Weiland, Christopher Liu, Joanita Titan, Daniel Ezra, Katie Lovejoy, Michele Levbarg-Klein, Kate Curkin, Henry Gans, Christina Senia, Silvia Mella, Chris Ochao, Angelica Forlefac, Guido Callarelli, Emma Snowden-Jones, Shana Davis, Skylar Pinchal, Noah Koeppel, John Wagner, Alexis Light, Anthony DeWitt, Markus Dochantschi, Susan Chase, Jamie Nicholson, Keyen Ferrel, Adam Gordon, Becca Starr, Clare Ngai, Eddie Howard, Mason Fennelly, Emily Armstrong, Quinn, Cassidy De Lonjay, Olivia Frame, Patrick Kenney and Peter Bradley.
Enamored by the beauty and history of Venice, Italy, proud Peruvian-born philanthropist, activist and entrepreneur Lizzie Asher, alongside the Let’s Spritz! host committee, is dedicated to preserving the artistic heritage of the floating city. Invited guests rallied in support of Save Venice which selects restoration projects based on artistic merit, historical importance and urgency. In collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Culture and with the help of renowned international experts, Save Venice has funded the restoration of more than 500 artworks in Venice including the recent completion of Tintoretto’s 1561 Wedding Feast at Cana in the sacristy of the church of Santa Maria della Salute.
In high spirits, Lizzie shares, “Venice is a city that is beloved by all and you could feel that throughout event! Where else could we host such a magical evening other than NYC where people from 10 different countries came together to toast the riches of Venice and all the incredible work that Save Venice has done to restore its masterpieces and architecture. Now that we relaunched our Young Friends group, we have big dreams to contribute to the mission of Save Venice and, who knows, even visit those restorations in person during the 2020 Masquerade Gala in Venice during Carnevale!” On the host committee, Casey Kohlberg is also excited about Let’s Spritz! success and sees a rewarding future for Young Friends of Save Venice.
The Let’s Spritz! host committee was inspired by the time-honored Save Venice galas, held in its native city, and one of the most anticipated black-tie balls, held annually in New York City, Un Ballo Maschera. Coining the name Let’s Spritz! was to honor the classic Venetian aperitif cocktail, the Spritz, which was served blending an exceptional selection of Galliano L’Aperitivo, the evening’s sponsor, Macchu Pisco, co-founded by Lizzie with her sister Melanie, and Spritz.
Set against the backdrop of international art gallery Carpenters Workshop, Let’s Spritz! was a glamorous evening, reenergizing the venerable cause. Director Ashlee Harrison of Carpenters Workshop Gallery shares the same sentiment in saying, “Last night I was thrilled to welcome the Young Friends of Save Venice to Carpenters Workshop Gallery New York. I couldn’t have had a more vibrant and successful kick-off to reboot the Young Friends Initiative — and the energy in the room proved the excitement in the community and interest in the cause. I’m excited to be a part of the organization — their mission to restore the city’s cultural landmarks and stunning architecture is necessary and extremely timely, resonating with me both personally as well as professionally.”
Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres crafted by traditional Italian catering company, Acquolina.
Sponsors for the Let’s Spritz! include: Macchu Pisco, Galliano and Valdo Prosecco.
The French Heritage Society’s Annual New York Gala Dinner Dance is one of the most highly anticipated fall galas of the year, and this year is no exception. This year, the glamourous gala will be held on Halloween on October 31, 2018. The Gals is festively themed, The Black and Orange Ball, and guests will be wearing masks and elegant disguises.
To kick off the gala, the French Heritage Society’s (FHS) New York Young Friends Circle were welcomed by LALIQUE, a Silver-Level sponsor and the Galas Honoree, to it Madison Avenue boutique. Attendees including Lalique CEO James Mun and Heritage Auction Consigment Director Nicholas Dawes, sipped Taittinger champagne while admiring the remarkable crystal creations of the brand.
Since their founding, 35-years ago, the organization has raised more than $21-million for restoration grants, and completed nearly 600 restoration projects in both France and in the United States, orchestrated 480 transatlantic internships between the two countries, established 10 FHS chapters throughout the U.S. and one in Paris and developed vibrant young patron groups in NYC and in Paris.
This year, they awarded 14 new restoration grants and two cultural grants for a total of $630,000 on both sides of the Atlantic. In celebration of the tricentennial of the founding of New Orleans, in 2018, FHS awarded a Restoration Grant of $20,000 to restore the Degas House where Edgar Germain Hilaire Degas lived for a winter, and a Cultural Grant to the New Orleans Museum of Art.
In 2017, grants were given to New York institutions including a $100,000 Cultural Grant to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s ‘Visitors to Versailles’ exhibit. The funds were used to support the scenography for the exhibition and ensure that the scenography incites a sense of awe when one enters, and helps make the exhibition an unforgettable moment. They also awarded a $25,000 Restoration Grant to the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the U.S.’s Venetian room, which is an emblematic example of interior designing during the Gilded Age. They also gave a $15,000 Educational Grant to St. Bartholomew’s Church, NYC to study and evaluate conditions and restoration treatment plan by Columbia University’s historical preservation students.
This year’s Gala is organized under the gracious patronage of His Excellency Gérard Araud, Ambassador of France to the United States, His Excellency François Delattre, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, and Mrs. Sophie L’Hélias-Delattre, Ms. Anne-Claire Legendre, Consul General of France in New York, and Mrs. Bénédicte de Montlaur, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy in the United States.
The Gala Chairmen are CeCe Black, Silvina Leone, Liz McDermott, Jay R. Paul, Jean Shafiroff, Ann Van Ness. The New York Chapter Chairs are Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt and Guy N. Robinson. Elizabeth F. Stribling is the Chairman of the Board.
All proceeds from the event support the important work of the French Heritage Society. FHS is dedicated to preserving the rich French architectural and cultural heritage, transmitting and safeguarding skills, knowledge and love of heritage through transatlantic educational programs, and fostering Franco-American friendship through cultural exchanges.
For information, contact fhs@frenchheritagesociety.org
On October 10, 2018, the Samaritan Daytop Foundation hosted its Third Annual Where Good Lives Gala to support Samaritan Daytop Village, one of New York’s largest health and human services non-profit organizations.
Through the generosity of Allied Partners Founder and CEO Eric Hadar and the Eric D. Hadar Family Foundation, the organization raised over $934,000 through the launch of his $1 Million Matching Challenge that was announced the night of the gala. The Eric D. Hadar Family Foundation pledged to match dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000 in donations.
“I am proud to stand with Samaritan Daytop Village. Through its innovative and compassionate programs, this extraordinary organization has saved the lives of countless New Yorkers,” said Eric Hadar, board member of Samaritan Daytop Foundation and Chairman and CEO of Allied Partners.
Over 300 people attended the event at the Tribeca Rooftop. NY1 Criminal Justice Reporter Dean Meminger served as the emcee for the evening. The evening’s honorees were Samaritan Daytop Village’s immediate past President & CEO Tino Hernandez; Executive Director of the United War Veterans Council (UWVC) Mark Otto; and Vice President of One Group-Benefits Advisory Service Sher Sparano.
Photographs by Vladimir Weinstein©BFA; Michael Brady (French Heritage); Nkosi Hamilton Photography (Samaritan Daytop Foundation)
