French Heritage Society Kick Off Party For 2023 Fall Gala

French Heritage Society will host its annual Gala Dinner Dance at the University Club in New York City on November 16. This year, the non-profit will honor award-winning architect Gil Schafer III. The author of two bestselling books, The Great American House and A Place to Call Home, Gil is a member of Architectural Digest’s AD100 and winner of Veranda’s “Art of Design Award.” This highly anticipated, black-tie affair will have music and dancing provided by the Alex Donner Orchestra.

On Wednesday, October 25, FHS kicked off its busy gala season with festive cocktails hosted by FHS Board Member and former FHS Gala honoree Jean Shafiroff at her residence. Remarks were given by Jean Shafiroff, as well as FHS Chairman Elizabeth Stribling and Gala Honoree, Gil Schafer III. Guests were further delighted to see New York State Congresswoman Rebecca Seawright present Elizabeth Stribling, Jean Shafiroff and Gil Schafer III with certificates of recognition from New York State for their contributions and service to French Heritage Society.

Guests included FHS Board Members CeCe Black, Judy McLaren, and Kazie Metzger Harvey as well as Alixandra and Stuart Baker, Susan and Jerry Baker, Tomaczek Bednarek, Bettina Bennett, Lee Black, Liliana Cavendish, Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, Jennifer Farrell, Vincent Festa, GiGi Fisdell, Maria and Kenneth Fishel, Meera Gandhi, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Dr. Penny Grant, FHS Executive Director Jennifer Herlein, Sylvia Hemingway, Dr. Claudine Holt, Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson, Margo Morton Langenberg, Valerie A.E. Lettan, Vicky McLoughlin, Robert Murray, Sue Phillips, Guy Robinson, Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe, Courtnay Schafer, Patricia and Thomas Shiah, Elizabeth Steimberg, Miss VanBuren-Brown, Julissa Tudor, Allison Baroness von Arnim, David Weiner, Andrew Werner, among others.

French Heritage Society is an American nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the French architectural and cultural legacy in France and the United States.