Upwards of 200 guests attended the Inaugural Best Buddies Hamptons Beach Bash, at the Water Mill home of
Anne Hearst and
Jay McInerney. The event benefitted Best Buddies International, a vibrant organization founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities around the world who are routinely misjudged and ignored by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
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Jay McInerney, Anne Hearst, Anthony Shriver, Tatiana Platt, and Campion Platt at
the Inaugural Best Buddies Hamptons Beach Bash. Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com |
Best Buddies International Board Member
Tatiana S. Platt and husband
Campion Platt joined the McInerney's as Co-Chairs for a spectacular gala. The evening featured a festive summer theme, "When in Rio...," and began with a cocktail reception followed by a sumptous formal dinner catered by
Robbins Wolfe Eventuers. There was also a live auction, a musical presentation by Latin performers
Ritmo, and dancing under the stars.
The evening's live auction highlights included the opportunity to own "Flaxon Lady," a royally bred Arabian mare (donated by Hoffman International Properties); an extraordinary Tour of the Holy Land - a seven-day trip that features visits to Old and New Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Sea of Galilee (donated by The Venetian Foundation and
Dr. Miriam and
Sheldon Adelson); "President John F. Kennedy" by pop artist and cultural icon
Romero Britto, an acrylic drawing on canvas; a vacation at the exclusive Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay (donated by DPS Sporting Club Development); and "Reflections" by New York artist
Hunt Slonem, the latest addition to the Best Buddies Artist Collection, which was unveiled at the Palm Beach Crystal Ball in March.
Lydia Fenet was the evening's Auctioneer.
Tatiana Platt, a renowned Internet executive and founder of FameGame.com, who has been involved with Best Buddies practically from its inception, was honored this past March (in Palm Beach) with the "Spirit of Leadership Award," Best Buddies' highest accolade, for her dedicated service.
The Best Buddies Hamptons Beach Bash Benefit Committee included
Debbie Bancroft,
Somers Farkas,
Nicole Miller,
Nazy Nazhand,
Patty Raynes and
Leslie Stevens. In addition to the hosts and the Benefit Committee, several other notable figures at the event included Honorary Gala Co-Chairs
Alina and
Anthony Kennedy Shriver,
Georgina Bloomberg,
Delfina and
Nacho Figueras, New York artist
Hunt Slonem,
Countess Luann de Lesseps,
Michael Clinton,
Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos,
Diandra Douglas,
Ed Hayes,
Valesca Guerrand Hermes,
Kim Heirston,
Becca Cason Thrash, and
Nina Griscom. Everyone spoke excitedly about the event for next year as they drove away with gift bags overflowing with items from Kenneth Cole and Keratase.
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Andy Stern, Andrew Lane, Robert Vitelli, David Kilmnick, and Heather Martin at the
Fourth Annual On the Bay Lawn Party and Auction. Photo by John Wegorzewski |
On a glorious Saturday evening friends and supporters of LIGALY (Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth) gathered for the Fourth Annual On the Bay Lawn Party and Auction at the Diamond Ranch in Water Mill to celebrate another successful year in the life of this 15-year-old organization that provides education, advocacy and social support services to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth and young adults throughout Long Island.
The by-invitation-only event - always one of the most elegant affairs was hosted by Diamond Ranch's
Stan Simon and the members of the On the Bay Committee, comprised of co-chair
Joseph Pasquino, Honorary Committee members
Carson Kressley,
Congressman Tim Bishop,
NYS Assembly Patricia Eddington,
Congressman Steve Israel,
Marc Levine,
Cliff Love,
Deanna Annis,
Duke Morell,
Arne Besser,
Robert Marc,
Mario Bosquez,
Lizz Salaway,
Frederico Azevedo,
Edward Wilkerson, LIGALY's
David Kilmnick and
Robert Vitelli. This event was all the more significant as co-founder
David Kilmnick announced the group's plans to open a satellite center on the East End.
As always there were fabulous cocktails and a highlight of the elegant party was the station where
Chef Frank Tramontano introduced his new Ever So Saucy natural sauce line and dished up samples over pasta with his associates
Annette De Simone and
Gregory Hein. As well, he offered jars for sale with the total price going to LIGALY.
A very special moment occurred when 14-year-old
Sarah Cassata took to the stage and spoke movingly about how LIGALY empowered her to come out and be proud of herself. As well, she spoke eloquently about the safety she felt with LIGALY behind her. Her very proud father
Vincent Cassata stood there beaming and led the thunderous applause for the brave teen.
The focal point of the day, however, was the Luxury Silent Auction with more than 100 available goods and services, including: a diamond pendant from Jill Lynn of Jobs Lane, botanicals and soaps from Privet Cove, fabulous slippers from Stubbs & Wooton, Baccarat wine glasses, a three-night stay for two at the Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, Calvin Klein cashmere robe, Joan Rivers jewelry, leather goods and jewelry by Ralph Lauren, a Gucci G-Tag wallet, a dress and handbag by Bill Blass, leather duffle from Marc Jacobs International, a weekend stay for two at a luxury W Hotel, Elizabeth Arden products from Red Door Spas, dinners at 75 Main, Saracens and The Drivers Seat and four VIP tickets to the Hampton Classic.
Among those seen bidding on the extraordinary auction lots were
William Kapfer and
Eric Baker,
Sir Ivan and
Mina Otsuka, artist
Marjorie Myles,
Dr. Sean Cannon,
Dennis Snedin,
Eric George,
Bill Hughes,
Charlie Sertoff,
Charles Merlo and
Dominick Lacovara,
Helin Collins,
Suzanne and
Bruce Poli,
NYS Legislator Jack Eddington and his wife
NYS Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington,
Derek Carroll,
Gregory Speck,
Jennifer De Lisi and her daughter
Christina and scores more.
The always-popular VIP gift bag, a huge canvas beach tote from John Varvatos, was brimming with products from Jet One Jets, here!TV, Centaur Music, Red Door Spas, Pearl Vodka, and cookies from one of our favorite East End bakers
Miche Bacher of Sacred Sweets.
As he has done many times before, artist, collector and philanthropist
Henry Buhl opened his glorious estate, Girasole, for a very special event, The Bug Bash. This wasn't about beetles, flies, or bees but those nasty "bugs" that thrive in hospitals and have been responsible for thousands of deaths. In fact, hospital infections kill more Americans each year than AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined.
Leading the fight in this important battle is former New York State Lt. Governor
Betsy McCaughey who co-hosted the cocktail party with her dear friend Henry.
Speaking to the assembled guests she remarked," When I was Lt. Governor of New York State, I was horrified to hear about patients suffering from hospital infections. I heard from families struggling to understand how their loved one had been killed, instead of cured, by hospital care. That's why I founded the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID). RID is a non-profit organization dedicated to only one cause: saving lives". Since then, RID has become powerful in bringing change and basic hygiene to medical facilities. On a personal note, she also commented on actor
Roy Scheider who fought a valiant battle against cancer for years only to succumb to a staph infection and not cancer.
Among those enthralled by Betsy's comments were
Scodino Kenny,
Renee Brown,
Linda Schaller,
Brondi Borer,
Bob Hormats,
Joel Silverman,
Paolo Rosenschein,
Nancy Mina,
Giacomo Norielli and many more concerned health advocates.
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