The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) held its 6th Annual Unconditional Love Gala on Saturday, July 18th at a sold out event at a private waterfront residence on Gin Lane in Southampton. Gala chair Jean Shafiroff and Board President Jonathan McCann hosted this year’s Great Gatsby themed event, which honored Leslie Alexander & Liz Brown, Brigid Fitzgerald and Michael Katz and Domenic J. Marino, DVM, DACVS.
Beth Ostrosky Stern came out to support Mrs. Shafiroff and the Shelter, as did Southampton Mayor Mark Epley, Anna Throne Holst, John Catsimatidis and his wife, Margo. Honorary Corporate Chairs for the Unconditional Love Gala included Ferguson Cohen, LLP and Sequin Jewelry.
Master of ceremonies Chuck Scarborough welcomed over 300 guests including, Board Member Robert Lohman, Cliff and Raya Knight, Martin Shafiroff, Sharon Bush, Liliana Cavendish, US Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Jean Remmel Fitzsimmons, Wendy Wegner, Amy Cosman, Flo Anthony and Jill Rappaport, in addition to Junior committee members Elizabeth Shafiroff, Katie McEntee and Lindsey Spielfogal, who enjoyed dinner by Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs and music by the Alex Donner Orchestra.
The real stars of the evening were the cutest cats and puppies, seven adult and baby Chihuahuas and a loveable bulldog mix who were all up for adoption. Proceeds raised from the Unconditional Love Gala help SASF to continue to care for over 1,200 homeless animals per year and funds raised during the night’s cash call went to support the spay/neuter program at the shelter clinic as well as the mobile low cost van granted to the Shelter by the ASPCA. Proceeds from the event also supported the SASF’s work with No More Tears Rescue to rehabilitate and find homes for adult dogs rescued from puppy mills, with The Humane Society of Northwest Georgia to take in dogs on death-row and find them permanent homes, and with the ASPCA to save dogs from cruelty and disaster situations and place them in safe homes. The Shelter also runs programs that help special needs children, along with educating, mentoring and implementing SASF’s “Playing For Life” program, created by the SASF’s former Training & Behavior Director, Aimee Sadler, which is currently in 100 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. SASF has been called one of the most progressive shelters in the country, having recently won an award as the finest shelter on Long Island and ranked in the top 10% of the best rated shelters in the U.S. In addition, the Shelter leads the country with its “live release rate”, which means that of all dogs and cats 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.
Owen Hoffmann/PatrickMcMullan.com
