BeKind founder Frances Hayward
welcomed guests into her home and
out of the torrential rain for her
Art For Animals' dinner in honor of
Russell Simmons, CEO of Rush
Philanthropic, and Wayne Pacelle,
President of the Humane Society of
the US at Grey Gardens in East
Hampton on Sunday, July 27th.
Hayward set up a sumptuous vegan
buffet for her animal-loving guests
who included Frank and Victoria
Wyman, Patrick and Elisabeth
Gerschel, Richard and Isabelle
Furlaud, Chuck and Cathy Gropper,
veterinarians Robin Brenner and Jay
Kuhlman, stunner Beth Ostrosky
(sans fiancé Howard Stern), HSUS's
Samantha Haas and HSNY's Sandra
Defeo,
who all weathered the storm to come
show their support.
Upon entering, guests including Eva
Beale (whose husband Bouvier is a
direct descendant of the Beale
family), Lionel Larner, Campion and
Tatianna Platt, Jackie and Anya
Robertson, Sharon Sondes and
Geoffrey Thomas, interior
designers Tony Ingrao, Randy Kemper
and Cynthia Clift, designers Michael
Mione and Jackie Rogers, lighting
master Bentley Meeker and ARF's Sara
Davisson were greeted by a large
painting of Frances¹ beloved
Shepherd-mix
Amigo, the inspiration for her
Foundation, who she just lost to
cancer this year.
Prominently featured in the foyer
was a 12 X 9 oil Masonite painting
of an endearing bunny entitled The
Hutch, donated by famed American
artist Hunt Slonem, whose brother
Jeffrey Slonim and his wife Fiona
admired upon entering. The beautiful
dark carved wood framed artwork,
valued at $3,800,
will be up for auction online with
100 percent of the proceeds going
directly to helping animals. Bidding
will begin August 1, 2008 online at
the Humane Society of New York¹s web
site
www.hsny.org
<http://www.hsny.org>
)and on eBay, and will continue
through September 1, 2008. Sharon
Patrick took initiative and placed
the first $1,000 bid, but Liz
Fondaras, attorney Salvatore
Strazzullo, who attended with his
wife Jodie Fanelli and her twin
Diane, art aficionado Michele Gerber
Klein and
Hunt Slonem collector Wendy Diamond,
host of CBS Greatest American Dog,
all expressed interest in the piece.
In the beautifully decorated main
room Dr. Robert Schwalbe and his
wife Janie chatted with R. Couri
Hay, Joan McGivern and James Oxnam
about his new book Sixty, Sexy, and
Successful, and his reading at East
End Books that
Friday. Anne Dexter-Jones was
showing off her new bracelet designs
to a group of guests and admitted
she had named the line after herself
as Cartier was already taken!
Russell Simmons' new girlfriend
Paige Butcher, dressed casually in a
sweatshirt with skinny jeans,
mingled with Vera and
Donald Blinkin and Debbie Bancroft
and her young daughter Serena, who
is already a big animal fan!
While supporters dined on an
extensive buffet menu, Wayne,
Russell and Frances took a few
moments to thank everyone for coming
out to support such a worthwhile
cause despite the raging weather.
While Pacelle addressed animal
farming and the HSUS's new campaign
to stop livestock, such as
cows, chickens and pigs, from being
confined so tightly that they are
unable to walk, even move, Simmons
addressed cruelty to animals in
general. The music mogul said that
it is criminal the way some people
treat animals and to better
humanity, we need to respect all
living creatures and allow them
their dignity. Frances concluded the
short dialogue by adding that there
is a connection between art and
animals, and really their work
together is sure to benefit all
living creatures. The hostess
concluded the speaking by
encouraging everyone to help any way
they can, from adoption to
volunteering, to donating time,
products or funds, as animals cannot
fend
for themselves and need any help we
can give.
This past year, Hayward, Simmons and
Pacelle worked together on different
initiatives to raise awareness and
funds for animals, including their
national Public Service Announcement
to stop dog fighting and the
horrific
practice of dog baiting. The party
allowed the dynamic trio the
opportunity to exchange new ideas
while relaxing with friends and
supporters. Frances¹ next trip will
be to New Orleans for the Pet
Memorial, which honors all thepets
lost in Hurricane Katrina, on August
29th.