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BODY
POSITIVE
No Rain, Only
Champagne,
At Garden Gala’s Parade
By Edward T. Callaghan
Photos by James Edstrom
 HE
threatening skies and heavy winds did little to deter the faithful
supporters of Body Positive.
Heeding the call of “come rain or come shine,” more
than 300 braved the chilly weather for the warm environs of Jerry
Della Femina and Judy Licht’s
magnificent oceanfront manse for Garden Gala XVII
benefiting Body Positive, and its educational and support services for
people living with HIV/AIDS.
Co-chair Linda Romanelli Leahy, her
husband Rob and board members Kevin Johnson, Kathleen
and Jim Schwartz pulled out all stops to make this one
terrific bash.
The good spirits were heightened with plenty
of Champagne Piper
Heidseick from Remy Amerique, a generous grand sponsor of the event.
The
gala host, ABC-7’s Sam
Champion, flashed his
warm smile to arriving guests including Congressman
Timothy Bishop, Peter Jennings and Kaycee Freed,
Fred Schneider and Robert Molnar, Eric Rodriguez,
David Shmerler, Mary Ellen Winston, Raven, Bill
Kapfer, Peggy and Joseph Melendez, Caroline Winston, Tony
Vargas, Kerry Delrose and Ron Senkirk, Adriane Gaines, Carol
Harrison, Chuck Hitchcock and H. David Wilt, Cliff
Love with the always divine Caprice by his side, Marios
Christos Sfantos, Deanna Annis and Improper
Hamptonian Nada Kucharski.
The unofficial kick-off to the
Hamptons
season, the gala saluted three individuals for their efforts on
behalf of people with HIV/AIDS: Guiding Light star Marj
Dusay, Congressman Timothy H. Bishop and
Southampton
Hospital
program coordinator Michael Collins.
Founded
by the late columnist James
Revson 16 years ago,
Garden Gala has become an annual tradition, thanks to the efforts
of Della Femina and Licht, who continued the fundraiser upon
Revson’s death from AIDS in 1991.
As in past years, the hors d’ouvres and
special treats were a collaborative effort by
Hamptons
top chefs and caterers Mimi Atlas, Anna
Adams, Cynthia Battaglia, Charles
Razzanno, Jean Koster, and Robert
Sylvestri.
New York’s acclaimed Philip
Marie Restaurant provided food and sensational wines to match the “teams”
culinary efforts.
The
silent auction was anything but! Guests swirled about the rooms of
the mansion filled with enough luxury items to make the most
seasoned
Fifth Avenue
shopper salivate!
Organized
by C. Guy Bowman, the sparkling jewels from Me & Ro, Tiffanny & Co.,
and the
eye-popping evening bags by pop artist Debbie
Brooks (whose fans include Charlize
Theron, Chita Rivera, Melanie Griffith, Sarah Jessica Parker
and Barbara Walters) were a big
hit, especially Brooks’ 2004 Tony Award commemorative bag.
Trend
watchers take note: the hotly contested prizes were original art
works and, believe it or not, with the young metrosexual crowd, a
men’s cosmetic kit from Zirh.
Art
remained king and top bids went to Tom
Murray’s color
portrait of the Beatles The Mad Dog Summer of ’68, and
the witty original cartoon The Martini Bird by the
legendary Dr. Seuss,
a.k.a. Ted Geisel.
Grand sponsors for the event were ABC-7,
Champagne Piper Heidsieck from Remy Amerique, Philip Marie Restaurant,
Tiffany & Co., Harper’s Bazaar and Village Copier.
Additional sponsors for the event were Animazing Gallery, Corbin
& Associates, Rain Vodka,
Saks Fifth Avenue
and Dr Pepper/7UP.
A special tip of the hat to Bill Kapfer, who
filled the goodie bags to overflowing.
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