Photography by Rob Rich – www.SocietyAllure.com
The 32nd annual Decorators-Designers-Dealers Sale and Auction Benefit Gala (D-D-D) to benefit the Southampton Fresh Air Home, was held on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Considered the opening fundraising event of the summer season, the D-D-D welcomed more than 500 guests.
The evening could not have been more perfect with sunshine and warm breezes. It was truly a charitable Hamptons crowd as guests bid on silent and wine auction items, while enjoying refreshing cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres by Canard catering with wines from Serafina. The cocktail party, silent and wine auctions were steady with benefactors all evening. The extraordinary home furnishings and antiques sale drew fast shoppers and dealers hurrying through the decorated buildings to find treasures in every room.
The evening highlight was the live auction. Vacations in Marrakesh, Palm Beach and New York City, a signed photo by Arthur Elgort, and a Hunt Slonem bunny painting were all sold to raise funds for the organization. The auctioneer Jacques Azoulay entertained the crowd and maximized the bids and donations. The presenting sponsor Dunmore Beach Club surprised the live auction crowd with a last-minute addition of a five-night stay at their signature resort on Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Jayden Lackard, a current camper at SFAH was the guest speaker. He gave a heartwarming talk about his experiences at SFAH and the importance of the Fresh Air Home’s year-round programs for children with physical disabilities.
The auctions featured top names in fashion, jewelry, travel, dining, entertainment, sports, health and beauty. The wine auction boasted a selection that rivaled the best of any private collection. The furniture sale showcased antiques, gently used and new home furnishings, designer furniture, lamps, paintings, one of a kind treasures, accessories and much more, offered at amazing prices.
Guest included: Charlotte Bonstrom, Madeine and Tom Elghanayan, Ann and Bill Yawney, Barbara and Alan Glatt, Gil Besing and Lucy Cuneo, Christl Meszkat, Isolde O’Hanlon, Nicky and Jamie Grant, Amanda and Robert Holmen, Ann Grimm, Raya and Clif Knight, Lisa and Rome Arnold, Marybeth Mullen, Susan Cocke, Noreen Donovan Byrnes, James Byrnes, Ryan Roth, Tania and Brian Higgins, Liliana Cavendish, Todd Merrill, Nikki Haskell, Irene Albright, Margaret Hedberg, Nancy Pearson, Melanie and John Wambold, Lisa Crawford, Liz and Rohit Manocha, Danielle Lapidus, Emilie Ghilaga, Maryanne Horwath and Michael Shaheen, Christie and Jim Gray, Ana Maria Holme, Lydia Wallis, Christine and Jim Gray, Mary Snow, Aisha Christian, Cricket and Richard Burns, Steven Stolman and Rich Wilke, Catherine and Bryan Carey, Jean Shafiroff, Larry Horton, Joe Markovich, Bronwen GP Smith, Sheila and Joe Fuchs, Maura and Nate Graves, Cliff Brokaw, and Aida Turturro amongst others.
The D-D-D raised vital funding for SFAH’s annual operating budget. Founded in 1901, SFAH’s mission is to provide an enriching, recreational and educational experience. As one of the few camps in the nation specifically focused on the unique needs of youth with physical disabilities, SFAH plays a vital role in enhancing the lives of these young people and their families. SFAH’s fundraising efforts ensure that no child is turned away because of a family’s inability to pay.
