Lighthouse Guild, the leading organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss, hosted its 11th annual Palm Beach “A Visionary Evening” at Club Collette on February 21, 2019.
A highly anticipated evening in Palm Beach, this year’s event honored beloved philanthropist Thomas A. Quick, who has been a longtime and dedicated supporter of Lighthouse Guild.
James Dubin, Chairman of the Lighthouse Guild Board of Directors welcomed guests and recognized the generosity and longstanding support of Thomas Quick and his family. He also thanked Dinner Dance Chairs Grace Meigher, Mary Quick and Patricia Quick, and Honorary Chair Arlene Dahl. Dr. Alan R. Morse, Lighthouse Guild President and Chief Executive Officer, spoke about how Lighthouse Guild is working to broaden its efforts around the country and the world with programs and services targeted at areas where vision and health intersect. These initiatives include serving people who are visually impaired in Palm Beach County.
The 2019 ‘Evening of Visionaries’ hosted more than 150 guests, who enjoyed an elegant evening of dinner and dancing, in addition to an exciting live auction conducted by Geraldine Nager of Sotheby’s to benefit Lighthouse Guild programs and services.
Lighthouse Guild, based in New York, is the leading organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss. We address and prevent vision loss by coordinating care for eye health, vision rehabilitation, behavioral health and related services. Our goal is to reduce the burden of living with vision loss — the cornerstone of its mission. For more information, visit www.lighthouseguild.org
Last Thursday night atop the Hearst Tower, LongHouse Reserve’s Winter Benefit honored architects Toshiko Mori and Jamie Carpenter. The evening began with cocktails in the East Rooms of the 44th floor with superb views of the city. Welcoming guests, executive director of LongHouse Matko Tomicic joked: “I was thinking about changing the title of the Benefit from winter to spring. I guess winter is over, thank god!”
Longhouse founder, Jack Lenor Larsen, spoke fondly of architect Jamie Carpenter, who designed the Israel Museum: “He was asked to design a real museum, of many buildings, beautifully orchestrated, and interestingly put together. It became a museum that you must visit soon. Jerusalem seems more distant than Europe or Japan. And it’s such a handsome city built over thousands of years over the same golden stone… ”
James Snyder, director emeritus of the Israel Museum, recalled, “We invited Jamie to Jerusalem late in winter,” he said. “It happened to be a kind of biblical weather weekend. The sky was intense blue, then there were cumulus clouds, then it snowed, then it rained, then hail. Jamie, whose sensibilities are all about light, got to experience every possible condition.”
Jamie Carpenter added, “Glass celebrates nature in many different ways. I’m interested in the characteristics of glass which are a little more abstract and complex than simply transparency. It can communicate information around us.”
Dianne Benson, Chairman of the Board, said, “One of the most wonderful aspects of my association with LongHouse and Jack is that I have learned that architecture is not just about a building, or wood, or materials, it’s a kind of magic that Jack has introduced us all to.”
Paul Goldberger joked, “We are celebrating LongHouse in tall house.” He then said, “I have long admired Toshiko Mori’s work. Her architecture simultaneously delights with the new, and, yet, at the same time, feels comfortable and almost familiar.”
In accepting her award, Toshiko Mori said, “I have known LongHouse for a very long time, since I was a student. Therefore, it is very close to me and it’s very interesting.” She also revealed how she had once interviewed Jamie Carpenter for a job: “As Jamie likes to joke, he didn’t get the job but he did get a wife.”
Guests included: Arthur and Diane Abbey, Jacqueline Brody, Richard De Rose, Sherri Donghia, Lee Freund, Sean Kelly, Christopher Latham, Mark and Elizabeth Levine, Eileen O’Kane Kornreich, Sandy and Steve Perlbinder, Lee Skolnick, James Snyder, Michael Steinberg, and Neda Young.
LongHouse Reserve exemplifies living with art in all forms. Founded by Jack Lenor Larsen, its collections, gardens, sculpture and programs reflect world cultures and inspire a creative life. LongHouse Reserve is a 16 acre reserve and sculpture garden located in East Hampton, NY, featuring pieces from Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono and Willem de Kooning to name a few. For more information, please visit: https://www.longhouse.org/
Down in Palm Beach last week, Angela and Steven Kumble hosted their annual Valentine’s Day dinner dance at their magnificent mansion which was decorated with masses of red flowers. Mrs. Kumble greeted her more than 50 guests for a dinner of grilled shrimp and roast chicken with lots of French wines and Champagnes followed by dancing to the Motown music of Memory Lane.
Among the dancing crowd were: Paulette Koch, Linda and Chat Hickox, Ann and Charles Johnson, Jayne Keyes and Michael DelGuidice, Sally and Arthur Solomon, Michael Harris, Scott and Monica Laurans, Ron Marshall, Linda and Edward Phelps, Mark Anthony, Angela and Harris Ashton, Ruth Baum, Jill and Jay Bernstein, Julie and Earl Campazzi, Carol and John Casey, Lynn Diamond and Frank Weisberg, Hildie and David Duffy, Linda and Edward Dweck, Lynn and Andy Gross, Valarie Simpson, Paula and Arnie Rosenshein, Toni and Martin Sosnoff, Sonja and Mark Stevens, Tyra and Karl Weitz.
Photographs by Capehart (Lighthouse; Kumble); Annie Watt (Longhouse)
