One of the Hamptons’ most anticipated summer social events, The Hamptons Happening, in honor of the Samuael Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) gave all a taste of the world while raising money for a great cause in Bridgehampton this weekend.
The Hamptons Happening
The 15th annual Hamptons Happening honored luminaries in the world of cuisine, business, and fashion who all support the innovative and groundbreaking research of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. SWCRF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer.
Its mission is to eradicate cancer by funding cutting-edge research that identifies and corrects abnormal gene function that causes cancer and develops minimally toxic treatments for patients. “It’s not about me. It’s about the work we do. It’s about 30 laboratories and the best cancer institutions here, China, Israel, Europe, Canada, and a very tight collaboration,” Waxman commented as he opened up the program.
To raise money and awareness for an incredible cause, guests were encouraged to participate in the silent and live auction and listen to the wonderfully talented Caly Bevier. Bevier is a survivor of ovarian cancer which she was diagnosed with at 15 years old. While sharing her touching story, donations were being texted in and displayed on the screens while Bevier sang her infamous cover of “Fight Song.” Emotions were rising high in the space as everyone reflected on how cancer had affected their lives in one way or another.
To keep that emotional momentum and passion to find a cure going, the live auction was held right after the performance and items included a 4 night stay in a villa in Tuscany, a getaway to a private villa in Sri Lanka or Thailand or Anguilla, a dinner and wine paired 6 course meal for 12 at Felidia Restaurant – which sold for $12,000.
Following the auction, guests skipped a trip to the airport and instead booked first class tickets to the “Tour de Cuisine” where they enjoyed food, wine, and spirit tastings representing some of the culinary destinations around the world. Guests mingled and danced to Pat and the Cold Spring Harbor Band (a Billy Joel tribute band) with honorees, scientists, doctors, business owners, and others as spirits grew high in the warm Hampton summer night.
Honorees included celebrity chef, Lidia Bastianich, restaurateur Ian Duke, business honoree and real estate entrepreneur Antonella Bertello, and womenswear designer Nicole Miller.
