Last weekend Southampton we had the pleasure to attend the Ninth Annual Unconditional Love Gala for The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. The Gala was held at the stunning Southampton waterfront home of Sandra McConnell. The event sold out for the ninth consecutive year with all proceeds donated to Shelter’s crucial initiatives and daily care of their rescues.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors led by Board Co-Presidents Clifton Knight and Beau Hulse hosted this year’s event. Gregory D’Elia served as Gala Chairman and the couture-clad Jean Shafiroff is Ambassador at Large for the Foundation, served as Honorary Chair. The event’s corporate chairs included Allen & Company, Barbara and Robert Liberman and Stifel. Thirty shelter pets, beautifully groomed for the evening, were on premises for the Gala and deemed Event Honorees. All the evening’s animal attendees were available for adoption.
The Foundation is unique on the East End, taking in animals from all seven villages and 16 hamlets in the Township. With its “open admissions” policy, it accepts all animals – no matter what physical or behavioural condition, or special needs, no matter what medical condition, no matter what age. It provides low-cost, mobile veterinary services throughout the region. Plus, it conducts educational classes in local schools on humane animal care.
More than 300 guests joined the Shelter for the evening celebrities and luminaries included: Greg Kelly and his wife Judith Grey, Margo and John Catsimatidis, Southampton Village Mayor Michael Irving and his wife Ellen, State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, Missy Hargraves, Deborah Hearst, Wendy Wegner and Jeff Sinaw, Henry and Barbara Gooss, Orest and Tish Bliss, Dorothy Frankel, Phyllis and Jeff Cole, and Robert Lohman.
The Chris Norton Band was fabulous, providing music for the evening. Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs treated guests to a wonderful dinner. A little rain could not stop the festivities as guest dined and danced the night away.
Head over to southamptonanimalshelter.com for more information.
-Sia Battle
Photos: Jared Siskin/PMC