Since beginning in 2011, Sailing Heals has hosted seaside lunches and yachting events in over 30 ports in nine different states for nearly 2,500 VIP guests. Invitations to participate in the Sailing Heals program are by word-of-mouth through medical personnel. The organization hosted an exclusive “Cocktails & Couture” style event the yacht club in Manhattan.
Designers Maggie Norris and Rene Ruiz created and curated a sumptuous evening of nautical-inspired day wear and evening wear for professional models that have experienced healing sails. After brief welcome comments by Sailing Heals’ main hosts Trisha Boisvert, Jon Ollwerther and Helen Miller, the evening included a brief speech by Boston Marathon bombing survivor Heather Abbott, who shared her story of how rejuvenating an afternoon at sea can be for those experiencing a serious injury or illness. Modern Luxury’s Fashion Director James Aguiar served as emcee for the elegant evening and several well-known philanthropists attended to show their support including Jean Shafiroff, Pamela O’Connor, and Barbara Regna. Ms. Regna also hosted, modeled and showcased her own accessory collection.
Sponsors of the evening included Mario Gatti, Marc Joseph Salon who provided hair and makeup services for the evening. Alex Soldier provided jewelry to complement the beautiful couture designs. Ike Behar provided tuxedos for the male models.
For more information on Sailing Heals, visit www.sailingheals.org. To learn more about the designers, sponsors and to view photos, please visit the links below.