One of our favorite benefits returned for a wonderful evening of philanthropy and fun. The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation’s 18th Annual Hamptons Happening took place over the weekend. It’s one of the Hamptons’ most-anticipated summer social events. The benefit was once again, hosted on the beautiful Bridgehampton estate of Kenneth and Maria Fishel. More than 300 guests attended and more than $400,000 was raised for cancer research.
This year’s event honored Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, for the Distinguished Business Leader Award; Mark Melchiorre, Executive Managing Director, CIO & Head of Brean Investment Group with the Distinguished Finance Leader Award; Chef Julian Medina, Chef-Owner of Toloache, Coppelia, Tacuba, La Chula, El Fish Shack and Kuxe with the Hospitality and Service Award; and Max Mara with the Fashion Cares Award.
Guests of the evening enjoyed a night of delicious tastings from dozens of chefs, restaurants, and beverage companies such as Chef Honoree Julian Medina’s Toloache, Coppelia, La Chula, and Tacuba; Arlotta Food Studio; Barney Greengrass; Centro Trattoria and Bar; Chef Peter Ambrose; Chef David Burke; Chef Harold Moore; Mercato Cucina; Phillipe Chow; T Bar; Tommy Bahama; Union Sushi & Steak; A La Mode Ice Cream Truck; Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Co.; Lilly’s Baking Company; Magnolia Bakery; and drinks from Herradura, Woodford Reserve, LoverBoy Hard Tea, Blood Monkey Gin, Palm Bay, Simple Vodka, Hampton Water, and Bridgehampton Breeze Wine to name just a few.
Before the night ended, honors went to:
Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, Distinguished Business Leader Award
Mark Melchiorre, Executive Managing Director, CIO & Head of Brean Investment Group, Distinguished Finance Leader Award
Chef Julian Medina, Chef & Owner of Toloache, Coppelia, Tacuba, La Chula, El Fish Shack, and Kuxe Hospitality and Service Award
Max Mara USA, Fashion Cares Award
Hamptons Happening event chair was Mark D. Friedman of Brown Harris Stevens with co-chairs, Jamie Koff, Fabric to Finish, and Erica Fineberg. The event committee included Alexandra Adame, Chris Arlotta, Antonella Bertello, Timothy Burch, Natalie Cohen Gould, Jennifer Counihan, Maria Fishel, Jacqueline Frank, Michael Frank, Michelle Greenberg, Bryan Griffin, Dina Koutroumanis, Norah Lawlor, Jessica Mackin, Kristyn, Mazza, Pamela Morgan, April Murena
Event sponsors include Gold Sponsor: Theodore A. Rapp Foundation; Bronze Sponsors: Erika and Mark Melchiorre; VIP Sponsors: Bess Freedman, The Fishel Family, Max Mara, Brown Harris Stevens, and Dentons; Supporting Sponsors: Brown Pollock Charitable fund, Eurostruct Inc., Fabric to Finish, Olshan, and Hampton Racquet; Media Sponsors: Lawlor Media Group, Hamptons Magazine, James Lane Post, and Mann About Town.
For more information about the SWCRF research, visit www.waxmancancer.org.
photos by Patrick McMullan