On Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, 12th, the “Grand Bazaar” fundraising mega-sale, hosted by Ayse Manyas Kenmore, will be held in the Hamptons. As a way to give back to her “supportive and loving” community, Ms. Kenmore will be selling over 1,000 items from her own collection at the sale—named after the famous shopping event in her native country, Turkey—and proceeds will go to The Retreat, a non-profit domestic violence agency that offers services for victims of domestic abuse, based in East Hampton.
 |
|
20th Century Thai Buddha. (Courtesy Photo) |
As a member of the Board of Directors for The Retreat for the last five years, Ms. Kenmore has organized this sale as a way to support an organization near to her heart. The Retreat offers victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault safety, shelter, and services – including a 24-hour hotline and counseling. “The Retreat gives clients the opportunity to safely heal and reestablish their lives, free from violence,” Ms. Kenmore explained. “Victims and survivors of domestic violence have incredible courage to leave everything behind in search of a safe and secure future for themselves and their loved ones. The Retreat does so much to ensure the success of that life change. Anything I can contribute is a small leg up in a monumental journey.”
For over 30 years, Ms. Kenmore has made many charitable and fundraising efforts, as she believes in the importance of blending and sharing different aspects of culture. She has hosted many fundraisers at her home since moving to the Hamptons part-time over 30 years ago, in an effort to do so. The items for the sale this weekend are part of a collection that is personally significant to the host. “Just like my dearest friends, the objects in the sale reflect deeply-held personal values: Only through diversity, understanding, and acceptance of ‘the other’ can one grow and learn,” she added. “I’ve been fortunate to grow up in a family and culture that believes it is not only natural but also necessary for us to give to one another. My friends often joke that if they admire something often enough, I’ll give it to them. Sometimes.”
Admission to the Grand Bazaar is free.
The Grand Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th at 152 Montauk Highway in East Hampton. For more information, visit www.theretreatinc.org.
