Photo Flash: The Ellen Hermanson Foundation Hosts 20th Anniversary Summer Gala

On June 20th, The Ellen Hermanson Foundation's founding chairs Emily Levin Esq. and Julie Ratner Ed. D held their 20th annual gala to celebrate their achievements over the past two decades and to honor Andy Sabin for his environmental and philanthropic work. Chaired by Jean Shafiroff and hosted by Fox Meteorologist Audrey Puente, the duo welcomed over 300 guests to photographer, Steven Klein's Westkill Farm in Bridgehampton for a night of dinner and dancing to the sounds of Audrey's brother, Tito Puente Jr. & his 10-piece band. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!

From 6pm guests including Homeland actress Amy Hargreaves, who arrived with the artist Bentley Meeker, Rosalie Puente, Hope Kramer, Bobbie Braun, Robert Chaloner President of Southampton Hospital, Mark Epley Mayor of Southampton, and his wife Marianne, Fred Thiele Assemblyman, and Hope Klein Langer, arrived and were driven to the tent in golf carts.

Midway through the event, Julie Ratner thanked attendees and supporters and let them know that The Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Southampton Hospital had provided 6,000 mammograms in 2014 alone, and an additional 360 mammograms to women that were uninsured. Julie then thanked her board members for going above and beyond, and read a letter from Gini Booth, a patient who had recently been re-diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at the Breast Center. Scarlett Magda, DVM, then introduced Andy Sabin by reading a letter from Susan and David Rockefeller that highlighted Sabin's dedication to the environment and philanthropy, before Julie presented Andy with a crystal-healing bowl on behalf of the Foundation. Live on stage, Andy handed over a check for $10,000 to the Foundation, in addition to the $10,000 he had previously committed. Jean Shafiroff then thanked the foundation for the work they have done over the past 20 years for women in the East End, before welcoming Robert Chaloner to the stage who said that the Breast Center, which just celebrated the opening of a dedicated entrance, is the "jewel in the hospital's crown."

At the end of the event, a live auction was held where items including a private dinner in your home from Chef Peter Ambrose, and a golf session for four at the Sebonack Golf Club, were auctioned, resulting in the Foundation raising over $30,000. In addition a Charity Buzz auction will remain online until June 25th.

Linda B. Shapiro of LBS Productions organized Viente. Gift bags were from Nars and Sequin. Sponsors included: Drs. Stephen Warren and Dr. Connie Chen, The Neuwirth Foundation, Ralph Lauren Polo, Jean Shafiroff, Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Elie Tahari and the Calvin Klein Family Foundation

Guests admiring the horses roaming freely in the paddock included: Tamara Behan, Debbie and Steven Bernstein, Dr. Constance Chen, Ann Ciardullo, Louis Coraggio, Thomas Joseph Farell, Joan and Georges Hornig, Shannon Hales and Joseph Fichera, Kasia and Hugo Moreno, Ted Kruckel,Polina Proshkina, Martin Shafiroff, Victor de Souza and Rory Tahari.

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation was established in 1997 to honor the memory of Ellen Hermanson and carry on the important work to which she devoted so much of her time and energy. An activist and an advocate, Ellen channeled her journalistic talents to become a forceful voice for breast cancer patients and their families.

In 2008, the foundation pledged $500,000 to fund The Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Southampton Hospital that opened in 2009 transforming the medical landscape of the East End by providing access to state-of-the-art quality care to the local community. The foundation is unique in its commitment to helping breast cancer patients and their families cope with the changing nature of the physical and emotional aspects of breast cancer by focusing on educational outreach and psychosocial support.

Ellen's Run, an annual 5k race taking place on the East End serves as the fundraising vehicle for the Foundation and is highly supported by the local community, and now receives over 1,000 runners. This year's race will be held on August 16th.

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