The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) held its Seventh Annual Unconditional Love Gala on Saturday, July 18th held at a private waterfront residence on Gin Lane in Southampton. The event sold out for the seventh year in a row.
Gala Chair Jean Shafiroff, Board President Jonathan McCann and Chair Emeritus Susan Allen hosted this year’s event themed around a traditional Hamptons beach soiree, which honored El Faro de los Animales in Puerto Rico including Board Member David Brownstein and New York Branch President, Julie Sinaw.
Alex Donner, Jean Shafiroff, Jonathan McCann and Georgina Bloomberg
Honorary Board member Georgina Bloomberg came out to support the Shelter, as did Southampton Mayor Mark Epley, U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, John Catsimatidis, and Jill Rappaport. The Honorary Corporate Chairs for the Unconditional Love Gala included Allen & Company, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ferguson Cohen, LLP, and Stifel Financial Corp.
Jean Shafiroff and Georgina Bloomberg
Anna Throne-Holst and Mayor Mike Epley
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Master of ceremonies Chuck Scarborough welcomed more than 300 guests including Southampton Councilman John Bouvier, Anna Throne-Holst, Richard Demato, Kim Renk, Ellen Scarborough, Debra Hearst, Lilianna Cavendish, Sony Schotland, Greg D’Elia, Martin Shafiroff and Rachel Grant, in addition to Junior Committee members Kate McEntee, Scott Stevenson, Elizabeth Shafiroff, Phil Piro, Merritt Piro, Charles McConnell, and Sara Vacchiano. All guests enjoyed dinner by Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs and music by the Alex Donner Orchestra.
Gregory Dryer and Kim Renk
Ellen and Chuck Scarborough
Kate McEntee
This year’s Unconditional Love Gala exceeded their fundraising goal through donations, live and silent auctions and pet sponsorships. All proceeds go towards SASF’s crucial initiatives, such as their low-cost spay/neuter mobile van granted by the ASPCA, efforts to rescue animals enslaved in puppy mills, and the daily care of the rescues within the shelter. They also benefit the shelter’s programs that help special needs children, along with educating, mentoring and implementing SASF’s “Playing For Life” program, which is currently in over 40 shelters and highlighted at the major animal conferences throughout the U.S.
ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON ANIMAL SHELTER FOUNDATION:
Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing for the welfare of homeless pets in our community and, in turn, placing them in permanent caring homes. The SASF’s mission is to provide for the welfare of animals and to reduce the number of homeless pets. The Shelter’s goal is to promote and nourish the bond between people and animals through adoption, education and community outreach. SASF recently won an award as the finest shelter on Long Island and rated in the top 10% of the country for their live release rates. The Shelter leads the country with its “live release rate”, which means that of all animals brought to the shelter, 94% are adopted into loving homes. SASF is an open intake shelter that welcomes stray pets regardless of age, breed, or health providing them with the finest care, food, training, and medical attention. No adoptable animal is left behind! To learn more, please visit SASF’s website at www.southamptonanimalshelter.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/southamptonanimalshelter.
*The featured photo is the Unconditional Love Jr. Committee
