Philanthropists Martin And Jean Shafiroff Host “Beat The January Blues” In Honor Of Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation

Missing the holiday party pace? Philanthropists Martin and Jean Shafiroff threw a Beat the January Blues cocktail party in their Park Avenue floor-through to toast the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. The Shelter is one of Jean’s “pet” philanthropies: As the Chair of their annual summer Unconditional Love Gala for the past five years, she took it from a cozy cocktail party to one of the Hamptons’ signature galas, raising more than $4 million. Last year, she was honored at their gala and she sits on its Honorary Board.

“Jean has been like a Joan of Arc for our Shelter,” new Board President Clifton Knight told the room. “Without her support we would not be operating. As a result of the training work we are able to do, our adoption rate is up to 98 percent. This is unsurpassed by any shelter on the East End. We take in all animals, no matter the condition – all the orphans and all the tough cases, and our adoption rate is through the roof.”

SASF Executive Director Jerry Rosenthal also came in for the soiree, which raised an additional $10,000, with a surprise auction. Mitch Modell, CEO, Modell’s Sporting Good offered a package for two people to travel with the Brooklyn Nets on the team plane, stay at the team hotel and then return to New York with the team after having watched the game from premium seating. Ray Bouderau made the winning $10,000 bid.

Guests, who were told to wear blue, included: Geoffrey Bradfield, Rachel Atcheson, Community Liaison Officer – Animal Welfare, Office of the Mayor of New York City, Erik Bottcher and JD Thompson, Craig Dix, Irene Michaels, and designers Zang Toi and Victor de Souza, Flo Anthony, Edgar Batista, Ray Boderau, Nina Burleigh, Darold Cuba, Craig Dix, Scott Elkins, Joseph Fichera, Renee Schlather, Montgomery Frazier, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Larry Kaiser, Roy Kean, Steven Knoble, Robert Lohman, Jennifer Miller, Nicole Noonan, Barbara and Ken Poliwoda, Ann Rapp, Matt Rich, Paola and Arnie Rosenshein, Jerry Rosenthal, Natalie Ross,Randi Schatz and Felicia. Adding more glamour, Jean greeted guests in a vinyl blue two-piece outfit by Courrèges and then changed into a gown designed by Caroline Elenowitz.

The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation’s Ninth Annual Unconditional Love Gala will be held on July 21st, 2018.

For more information, please visit southamptonanimalshelter.com.