Photos Credit: Jenny Gorman
Group for the East End hosted its Margaritaville benefit on Saturday, June 8 at The Bridge in Bridgehampton. The evening featured a cocktail hour with a silent auction, Pantalones tequila tasting, South Flagler House Champagne cart with wines from West Palm Wine Co., and music by Steel Drum Mania, paddle raise with emcee CK Swett, and remarks from Group for the East End board chairwoman Katherine Birch, Group for the East End president Bob DeLuca, and Champion for the East End Environment honoree NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele, dinner, dancing with DJ Biodynamic, and the Coconut Casino. The Group also honored Mary Walker with the Osprey Award for Environmental Leadership.
“This year’s event was nothing less than an inspiration for a clean water future,” shares Group for the East End president Bob DeLuca. “We were blessed to have a sold-out event, beautiful weather, a wonderful site, fantastic food, and the opportunity to honor two exceptional community leaders, who, in very different ways, have dedicated themselves to protecting our local East End environment for decades. So now as we now prepare to embark on the largest clean water action campaign in the Group’s history, we are incredibly energized by the passion and generosity of all those who turned out to support our work, urge us forward, and share their commitment to a truly sustainable future for this precious region.”
The proceeds from this year’s fundraiser will be used to kick off a critically important campaign to clean up the East End’s bays, harbors, and drinking water — the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act.