On Saturday, June 17, The Retreat held its 22nd annual All Against Abuse Fundraising Gala at the Ross Lower School Field House in Bridgehampton. The theme for the 2017 signature summer fundraising event was “A Night in Havana”.
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Hannah Gross, Nicole Behrens and Jennifer Wisner. (Photo: Abby Cummings) |
Guests in attendance dressed in festive attire with a Cuban flair, and enjoyed a featured performance by Maria Bacardi, live Salsa music (and dancers!) with Mambo Loco, Monte Carlo style gaming, a silent and live auction, as well as Cuban inspired food by Art of Eating.
This year marks The Retreat’s 30th anniversary for providing domestic violence services and education to families on the East End of Long Island. Programs include a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy, emergency residential shelter, programs to engage troubled fathers, and in-school violence prevention education programs.
As one of The Retreat’s biggest fundraising events of the year, the All Against Abuse Gala funds a myriad of comprehensive domestic violence services that include, Hope Heels, Partners In Prevention, Campus Safety with Nassau Community College, Suffolk County Fatherhood Initiative, Teen Leadership Project, Barrier and Stigma Elimination, and Structure Help Antiviolence Re-education Program.
Jacques Pepin, April Gornik, and Peter Dayton were some of the talented contributing artists that helped bringing back the tradition of hand painted ceramic plates to All Against Abuse by donating incredible works. The Gala originally started as a “plate auction” in which hundreds of local artists contributed one-of-a-kind, beautiful plates which were auctioned and sold to the highest bidder.
Over the years, the event grew into something larger than an auction. It has become a celebration of The Retreat’s partnership with the community. In 2015, the gala was renamed All Against Abuse, to clarify all people are encouraged to get involved, not only artists.
For more information about The Retreat, visit www.theretreatinc.org.
