While most of Memorial Day weekend in the Hamptons was a washout with rainy weather, the sun came out on Sunday, May 26, just in time for to enjoy the scenic views of Channing Daughters Winery in Bridgehampton where the Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) East End fundraiser was held.
The 26th annual East End Benefit which celebrated PPHP’s 80th anniversary brought out almost 200 guests to support the essential reproductive and sexual health services which PPHP provides to the East End and raised $165,000. PPHP President and CEO Reina Schiffrin was thrilled with the turnout stating, “We have so many supporters out on the East End. We have great services, we provide education outreach and of course medical services, so I couldn’t be happier to have the great support which our patients really need to keep getting the care they deserve.”
Rima Mardoyan, Iris Abrons, Dorothy Lichtenstein and PPHP chair Jill Scheuer served as event co-chairs while PPHP Board VP Ann Pogue-Campbell served as master of ceremonies and notable names from the art world who attended the benefit included artists April Gornik and Eric Fischl, writer Loraine Boyle, and Edwina von Gal. Molly and Walter Channing served as hosts for the evening and also donated the wine for the evening from their vineyard. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres from Cynthia Battaglia’s Distinctive Catering.
Attendees had the opportunity to bid on a silent auction items featuring gift certificates, a private garden tour, show tickets, salon and spa services, cooking classes, as well as artwork donated by several artists and photographers including Perry Burns, Toni Ross, Steve Miller, Dan Rizzie, Susan Lazarus, Priscilla Heine, Lucy Winton and Terry Elkins.
The PPHP SmartWheels mobile education and testing van was on site giving guests the opportunity to tour the van while learning about its services which include making visits to different communities to provide STD and HIV testing, free condoms, Plan B and educational pamphlets.
For more information visit www.plannedparenthood.org.