18th Annual Hamptons Happening
photo credit: Patrick McMullan
The 18th Annual Hamptons Happening, hosted by the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, was one of the most-anticipated summer social events in the Hamptons, with over 300 people in attendance. The cherished event, which was held at Kenneth and Maria Fishel's opulent Bridgehampton mansion, raised $400,000 for groundbreaking cancer research.
“Over the past 18 years, the Hamptons Happening has raised nearly $6 million for cancer research and with this year’s event we have surpassed that amazing milestone,” said William T. Sullivan, SWCRF executive director. “Since its founding, SWCRF has invested more $100 million towards collaborative cancer research, contributing to a number of scientific breakthroughs in the fight to eradicate cancer.”
Marion Waxman, Dr. Samuel Waxman, Chris Wragge (photo credit ©Patrick McMullan)
Dr. Samuel Waxman with Event Co-Chairs Erica Linden-Fineberg, Jamie Koff and Mark D. Friedman
(photo credit ©Patrick McMullan)
Dave Auclair, Julie Auclair, Maria Fishel, Kenneth Fishel (photo credit ©Patrick McMullan)
This year's event honored Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, for the Distinguished Business Leader Award; Mark Melchiorre, Executive Managing Director, CIO & Head of Brean Investment Group, for the Distinguished Finance Leader Award; Chef Julian Medina, Chef-Owner of Toloache, Coppelia, Tacuba, La Chula, El Fish Shack, and Kuxe, for the Hospitality and Service Award; and Max Mara, for the Fashion cares award.
“Cancer has affected all of us in one way or another. We know the struggles of the disease and pervasiveness firsthand. The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has one mission: eradicate cancer. I am honored to be able to participate and contribute to this unparalleled organization and such a worthy cause,” said Bess Freedman CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, recipient of the SWCRF 2022 Distinguished Business Leader Award.
Jean Shafiroff (photo credit ©Patrick McMullan)
Pamela Morgan (photo credit ©Patrick McMullan)
Atmosphere (photo credit ©Patrick McMullan)
“Cancer has touched our family many times. My mother, aunts, uncles, and sister-in-law have all suffered various cancer diagnoses. As a result, our family is very involved in volunteering our time and resources to support cancer research. The Waxman Foundation is a prominent, local leader in this field, and I am honored to take part in their efforts," said Mark Melchiorre, Executive Managing Director, CIO & Head of Brean Investment Group and recipient of the SWCRF 2022 Finance Leader Award.
“I’ve had friends and family with cancer but because of incredible advancements in treatment there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m proud to be a part of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation’s fight to find a cure and end this disease once and for all,” said Chef Julian Medina, recipient of the SWCRF 2022 Hospitality and Service Award.
“Max Mara is honored to be partnering with the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, an organization whose mission is to eliminate cancer through innovative and collaborative research. At Max Mara, we honor those who have been impacted by cancer and we are proud to help in the fight to free the world from this devastating disease,” Cristian Notari, CEO of Max Mara USA. Max Mara was the recipient of the SWCRF 2022 Fashion Cares Award.
Attendees enjoyed a night of delicious tastings from dozens of chefs, restaurants, and beverage companies, such as:
Chef Honoree Julian Medina's Toloache, Coppelia, La Chula, and Tacuba; Arlotta Food Studio; Barney Greengrass; Centro Trattoria and Bar; Chef Peter Ambrose; Chef David Burke; Chef Harold Moore; Mercato Cucina; Phillipe Chow; T Bar; Tommy Bahama; Union Sushi & Steak; A La Mode Ice Cream Truck; Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Co.; Lilly’s Baking Company; Magnolia Bakery; and drinks from Herradura, Woodford Reserve, LoverBoy Hard Tea, Blood Monkey Gin, Palm Bay, Simple Vodka, Hampton Water, and Bridgehampton Breeze Wine to name just a few.
The event also featured a thrilling live auction facilitated by Heritage Auctions, entertainment by Josh Beckerman, aka The Foodie Magician, DJ Jetset and GR1FN.
Event sponsors include Gold Sponsor: Theodore A. Rapp Foundation; Bronze Sponsors: Erika and Mark Melchiorre; VIP Sponsors: Bess Freedman, The Fishel Family, Max Mara, Brown Harris Stevens and Dentons; Supporting Sponsors: Brown Pollock Charitable fund, Eurostruct Inc., Fabric to Finish, Olshan, and Hampton Racquet; Media Sponsors: Lawlor Media Group, Hamptons Magazine, James Lane Post, and Mann About Town.
Hamptons Happening event chair was Mark D. Friedman of Brown Harris Stevens with co-chairs, Jamie Koff, Fabric to Finish and Erica Fineberg. The event committee included Alexandra Adame, Chris Arlotta, Antonella Bertello, Timothy Burch, Natalie Cohen Gould, Jennifer Counihan, Maria Fishel, Jacqueline Frank, Michael Frank, Michelle Greenberg, Bryan Griffin, Dina Koutroumanis, Norah Lawlor, Jessica Mackin, Kristyn, Mazza, Pamela Morgan, April Murena, Lib Obeid, Christine Prydatko, Randi Schatz, Joshua Sechter, Michael Snell, and Tiffiany West.
SWCRF Cocktail Party to Kick Off Hamptons Happening
The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) hosted a special Cocktail Party on Tuesday, April 26th, 2022, at Versa in New York City to kick off two critical SWCRF fundraising events: the 18th Annual Hamptons Happening and the virtual Step Up To Turn Off Cancer. Events like these have enabled SWCRF to invest more than $100 million in collaborative cancer research, supporting hundreds of investigators around the world and leading to numerous breakthrough discoveries.
Dr. Samuel Waxman, SWCRF CEO and Founder, this year's Hamptons Happening honorees, Bess Freedman, CEO Brown Harris Stevens; Chef Julian Medina, Chef & Owner Toloache, Tacuba, Coppelia, Kuxe, La Chula & El Fish Shack; and Mark Melchiorre, Executive Managing Director, CIO & Head of Brean Investment Group; event chair Mark D. Friedman, co-chairs. For more information visit www.waxmancancer.org/events/hamptons/.
Bess Freedman, Julian Medina, Mark Melchiorre
This year's Hamptons Happenings, one of the most anticipated events on the Hamptons summer calendar, will take place on Saturday, July 9th, 2022, at Kenneth and Maria Fishel's beautiful Bridgehampton Estate. Attendees will enjoy a night of delectable tastings from dozens of chefs, restaurants, and beverage companies while helping to raise critical funds for cancer research.
The Step Up To Turn Cancer Off is a new virtual fundraising event in which participants track their physical activities to meet their daily "step" goal. Almost any activity, such as walking, running, swimming, dancing, yoga, gardening, and so on, can be converted into steps using an easy-to-use online tool. Participants can register individually or as a team, then share their progress with their peers and family to raise funds. The week-long challenge will take place from June 6th to June 12th, 2022. For more information, to register, or to sponsor a participant or team, visit www.waxmancancer.org/events/stepup/.
About the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF):
The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer. The Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research and 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. Through the Foundation’s collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since its inception in 1976, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has awarded more than $100 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe. For more information, visit www.waxmancancer.org.
SWCRF Annual Hamptons Happening
With the world returning to some sort of regularity, more than 300 guests gathered in Hamptons for a one of a kind event. The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation’s (SWCRF) was proud to hold the return of the one of the biggest charity events of the summer, The Hamptons Happening! The 17th annual event was a celebration of health and wellness, and the culmination of The Global Walk to Flatten the Cancer Curve with SWCRF partner, Walk with a Doc. Event committee member Maria Fishel and Kenneth Fishel hosted the ticketed fundraiser on their estate in Bridgehampton. The event raised more than $400,000 towards cancer research.
This year’s honorees included HUGO BOSS, Fashion Inc represented by Rodolfo Esparza III; Dr. Kenneth Mark, Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Dermatology Expert; Natalie Cohen Gould, Co-founder of Come Back Cycle, Dir. of Wholesale, FP Movement; and Chef and Restaurateur David Burke, David Burke Hospitality Management. The event was co-chaired by Mark D. Friedman of Brown Harris Stevens, Jessica Mackin of James Lane Post, and Randi Schatz. SWCRF founder Samuel Waxman MD, along with event committee members Christine Arlotta, Antonella Bertello, Erica Fineberg, Maria Fishel, Jacqueline Frank, Norah Lawlor, Jamie Koff, Christine Prydatko, Suzanne Sabet, and Michael Snell were in attendance.
Jonny Nierenberg, Tori Chanenchuk, Ali Nierenberg, Elin Nierenberg, Michael Nierenberg
Dr. Samuel Waxman, Marion Waxman, Maria Fishel, Kenneth Fishel, Bradley Fishel
Notable attendees included: Dr. Samuel Waxman, Marion Waxman, Maria Fishel, Kenneth Fishel, Bradley Fishel, Rodolfo Esparza III, Dr. Kenneth Mark, Chef David Burke, Natalie Cohen Gould, Jamie Koff, Mark D. Friedman, Chris Wragge, Harry Carson, Ramona Singer, Jean Shafiroff, Randi Schatz, Ann Liguori, William T. Sullivan, Cesar Ricci, Michael Nierenberg, Elin Nierenberg, Jonny Nierenberg, Tori Chanenchuk, Ali Nierenberg, Jody Gorin, Allie Gorin, Matthew Gorin, Erica Fineberg, Steven Carter, Mario Pecoraro, Chris Arlotta, Philip Greenwald, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, Michael Tadross, Matthew Yee, Vincent Wolf, Suzanne Sabet, Hormoz Sabet, Debbie Shlafmitz, Howard Shlafmitz, Sarah Shlafmitz, Craig Rivera, Cordelia Rivera.
The Hamptons Happening was a cocktail chef-tasting event featuring a dozen chefs and spirits from The Hamptons and NYC area providing samples of their favorite dishes, cocktails and mocktails. The event featured appearances by VIPS like Chris Wragge, anchor of CBS 2 Morning News, Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson of The NY Giants, Ramona Singer of RHONY, and a performance by Freestyle Love Supreme, a Tony Award Winning Broadway Musical Improv Group.
After the opening performance by Freestyle Love Supreme, Emcee Chris Wragge welcomed guests to the Hamptons Happening. After a brief interview with founder Dr. Samuel Waxman, the honorees were awarded by William T. Sullivan, Executive Director of the SWCRF. Following another brief performance, the auction got underway. With tickets purchased and auction item bids, the event raised more than $400,000.
The delicious tastings stations were supplied by: A la Mode, Arlotta Food Studio, Bareburger, Beauty & the Broth, Bimble, Centro Trattoria, Chef Julian Medina, Chef Scott Kampf of Southampton Social Club and Union Sushi & Steak; Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Company, David Burke Hospitality Management, Golden Pear, Halo Sport, Herradura Tequila, Kurly Kurtosh, Magnolia Bakery, MarieBelle New York, Milene Jardine, Out East Rose, Pompette, Rust & Gold, Simple Vodka, T-Bar Steak & Lounge, Taub Family Companies, Woodford Reserve.
Sponsors included: Backal Hospitality Group, Guaranteed Rate, HUGO BOSS Fashions Inc., James Lane Post, Mann Publications, Modern Luxury, Newrez, Prime Meridian Moving. And dozens of in-donations provided by Amali, Ani Private Resorts, Arlotta by Chris Arlotta, Arlotta Food Studio, The Baker House 1650, Bisous Web, Calissa, Covergirl, Chase William, Evolve East, Free People Movement, FR TEAM of Brown Harris Stevens, The Hidden Gem Café, HiWave, ISDIN, Kobi Halperin, Lawlor Media Group, Peter Thomas Roth, Regina Kravitz, Swoon.
The Global Walk to Flatten the Cancer Curve officially started on June 30th, 2021 and culminated at the SWCRF’s 17th Annual Hamptons Happening. The virtual walk raised international awareness and funds for life-saving cancer research. Participants logged their steps during the 11 days with the aim of accumulating 25,000 miles, enough to travel around the world. The virtual fundraising walk collected $100,000 for cancer research.
The incidence of cancer is rising around the world and advanced age is the most significant risk factor. More than 60 percent of Americans diagnosed with cancer are 65 and older. SWCRF, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and National Institute on Aging, is leading the way in funding the scientists who are working towards the next breakthrough in cancer treatments. Currently, SWCRF is funding 50 renown investigators on three continents, each working together to develop less toxic cancer treatments.
For more information, visit: www.waxmancancer.org/events/hamptons/
Photos: Patrick McMullan and Rob Rich Society Allure