Inside Southampton Hospital Foundation’s 1940s-Inspired Summer Party
- East End Taste
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
One of the Hamptons’ most anticipated philanthropic traditions, this year’s celebration on Saturday, August 1st transported guests to the glamour of a 1940s supper club for an elegant evening of dinner, dancing and community support.
Held beneath the iconic tents on Wickapogue Road in Southampton, the benefit raised more than $1.8 million for Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and the Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department.
An Evening at the Supper Club
Event designer DeJuan Stroud transformed the setting with glowing candlelight and timeless décor, while live music from Christiaan Padavan welcomed guests during cocktail hour.
The evening continued with a seated dining experience catered by Elegant Affairs, accompanied by handcrafted cocktails featuring Macklowe Whiskey and Château Sainte Marguerite rosé.
A Spirited Live Auction
Renowned auctioneer Lydia Fenet led the evening’s live auction, inviting guests to bid on an impressive collection of luxury experiences.
A safari to Ongava Game Reserve in Namibia sparked such an enthusiastic bidding war that Fenet surprised the room by offering a second safari package, allowing another bidder to secure the once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Following dinner, guests enjoyed family-style desserts, Dolce & Gelato and the beloved Dreesen’s Doughnuts. The Frank Simmons Band then took the stage and kept the dance floor filled late into the evening.
Community Leaders Support East End Healthcare
Scotti was joined by an extensive committee of community leaders and longtime hospital supporters. The 2026 vice chairs were Jill Davis, Hollis Forbes, Laura Lofaro Freeman, Sheila Fuchs, Liz Lange, Jackie Mitchell, Margo Nederlander, Jean Shafiroff, Melanie Wambold, Cindy Willis and Sarah Wetenhall.
Nancy Stone served as Corporate Partnership Chair, while Fern Mallis served as Fashion Chair. Associate chairs included Brooke Bohnsack, Elizabeth Bowden, Kingsley Crawford, Haley Ludlow, Jacqueline McDermott, Caitlin Diebold O’Connell, Kristin Pasternak and Eric Travis.
Among the evening’s distinguished supporters were Alina de Almeida and John Paulson, Howard and Wendy Cox, Jay Lieberman, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Louise and Howard Phanstiel, Charlotte and Alejandro Santo Domingo, Barbara and Randall Smith, Fern Mallis, Julie and Billy Macklowe and Candace Bushnell.
Also in attendance were William Wertheim, executive vice president of Stony Brook Medicine, and Andrea Goldsmith, president of Stony Brook University.
Supporting Exceptional Care Close to Home
Proceeds from the Summer Party will help Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and the Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department advance innovative programs, leading-edge technology and compassionate care for residents and visitors across the East End.
Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is the sole provider of emergency care on Long Island’s South Fork. The 120-bed hospital is a designated Level III Trauma Center and primary stroke center, supported by more than 280 physicians, dentists and allied health professionals across 48 medical specialties.
The hospital is also the South Fork’s largest employer, with more than 1,200 employees and 32 satellite care centers throughout the region.
Media sponsors for the 2026 Summer Party included Dan’s Papers, Express News Group, Hamptons Magazine, James Lane Post, Social Life and Spotlight on the Hamptons.
For more information about the Southampton Hospital Foundation and its work supporting healthcare across the East End, visit southamptonhospitalfoundation.org.
