Jean Shafiroff Hosts Southampton Hospital Summer Party Kickoff Luncheon
Jean Shafiroff, Chair of Southampton Hospital’s 55th Annual Summer Party, hosted a kickoff luncheon for the annual fundraiser at Le Cirque in Manhattan on Thursday, May 9. Honorary Chair Audrey Gruss, Southampton Hospital President & CEO Robert S. Chaloner and Southampton Hospital Foundation President Steven M. Bernstein joined Shafiroff in welcoming nearly 100 supporters of the hospital to the famed restaurant. This year’s Summer Party will benefit the Jenny and John Paulson Emergency Department and the Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart and Stroke Center.
Master of Ceremonies Chuck Scarborough spoke of Southampton Hospital’s importance in the communities it serves on Long Island’s East End. Chaloner expressed his gratitude on behalf of the hospital’s Board and staff for the generosity of those attending and recognized past Summer Party chairs for their successful fundraising efforts.
Shafiroff thanked guests for their commitment to supporting the hospital, commenting, “The Hamptons is our home and we depend on Southampton Hospital to provide excellent care for those in need, particularly in an emergency.”
Audrey Gruss, who, with her husband Martin, has donated $5 million to create the hospital’s new Heart and Stroke Center, emphasized the importance of receiving timely treatment and the critical need for such a facility in the Hamptons.
She also introduced the futuristic theme of the August 3 Summer Party with news that the hospital’s partnership with Art Southampton will enable this year’s event to take place in an elegant air-conditioned pavilion, which the international contemporary and modern art fair is donating. Décor will be designed by Antony Todd and Art Southampton’s exclusive VIP Preview on July 25 will benefit the hospital once again and be a kickoff for the Summer Party.
A number of Art Southampton dealers, who will be exhibiting work prior to the Summer Party, have planned to donate a portion of the proceeds from sold work to aid the hospital in a variety of healthcare initiatives.
Guests included 2012 Summer Party Chair Laura Lofaro Freeman, Nick Korniloff, Partner + Director Art Southampton, Ann Rapp, Amelia Ogunlesi, R. Couri Hay, Avis Richards, Lise Evans, Carola Jain, Janna Bullock, Nancy Jane Loewy, Andrea Greeven Douzet, Melanie Wambold, Ann Jurden, Christine Smith Gray, John Wegorzewski, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Edward Callaghan, Michele Gerber Klein, Sharon Kerr, Regina Greeven, Victoria Wyman, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Patricia Shiah and Rolf Heitmeyer.
Tickets for the Southampton Hospital’s 55th Annual Summer Party can be purchased by contacting Kathy Lucas at 631-726-8700 or via email at [email protected]