Audrey and Martin Gruss opened their elegant Park Avenue home to The American Heart Association for a kick-off cocktail party for the Hamptons Heart Ball. The Grusses – whose donation to Southampton Hospital created the Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart & Stroke Center – will be honored that night.
Honoree Dr. Apostolos K. Tassiopoulos and wife Yianna, joined event co-chair Jean Shafiroff, dressed head to toe in red. Also in the room were: Judith Giuliani, Greg Kelly, Michael & Layne Liebelson, Paola Bacchini Rosenshein, Randi Schatz, Nurit Kahane, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Sarah Haley, Gretchen Mathews, Dr. Michael Wolk, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Lauren Roberts, Suzan Kremer, Regina Kravitz and Dr. Tom & Maria Giordano.
“The American Heart Associations was founded right here in New York City,” Bill LaForte, Chairman of the Founders Affiliate Board of Directors, explained to the room. He lauded Jean for “the philanthropist that you are, the book you have written and all you have done,” and the Heart Ball for being “the Wow, when it comes to this neck of the woods.”
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Dr. Tassiopoulos and wife Yianna. (Photo: Lenny Stucker Photography) |
The American Heart Association’s mission, he said, “is to help build awareness: in the schools, in the churches, in businesses; to do what we can to raise education about heart and stroke and do what we can to educate our communities so we can all live healthier lives (thru) partnerships with hospitals, cardiologists and with the communities at large.”
His own father had a bypass and lived to the age of 96. Although it often appeared “his two main food groups were gin and chocolate,” don’t expect the heart specialists to recommend that routine!
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Jean Shafiroff and Audrey Gruss. (Photo: Lenny Stucker Photography) |
The Hamptons Heart Ball will take place on Saturday, June 23rd at the Southampton Arts Center from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tickets are $600. The after party will begin at 10:30pm and tickets are $125.
For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please contact Barbara Poliwoda at 631-734-2804, [email protected] or visit ahalongisland.org.
