French Heritage Society Kicks Off 40th Anniversary Season

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary throughout 2022, French Heritage Society will mark its milestone year on both sides of the Atlantic this fall with a 40th Anniversary Gala at the Petit Palais in Paris on October 15 and “Gilded Age Gala” at a private club in Manhattan on November 17. FHS kicked off its busy fall gala season with festive cocktails on two consecutive Thursday evenings in September, one hosted by FHS Board Member and Gilded Age Gala honoree Jean Shafiroff and the other by Young Patrons Circle Co-Chair Blake Funston.

On September 15, French Heritage Society’s Young Patrons Circle enjoyed an “End-of-Summer Swing” at the home of YPC Co-Chair Blake Funston and Rufus Funston. With perfect fall weather and live jazz provided by Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra, the atmosphere was warm and festive as guests streamed into the garden. Champagne was provided by G.H. Mumm, and provençal rosé and chardonnay by Maison Lorgeril.

Guests included FHS Events Chair CeCe Black, FHS Board Member Rosann Gutman, and YPC Co-Chair Johnsonie Casimyr, Elena Ayot, Charles Burdick, Jonathan Doucette, Allison Ecung, Sophie Evekink, Valentin Goux, Valerie Lettan, Erin Malone, Lansing Moore, Christina Bott Murphy, Alexandra Nicklas, Andres Perea-Garzon, Tara Tunney, William Rutledge, among others.

On Thursday, September 22, FHS continued the cocktail festivities at the exquisite home of Jean and Martin Shafiroff. Remarks were given by the hostess, as well as FHS Chairman Elizabeth Stribling and FHS Events Chair CeCe Black. Guests were further delighted to witness Shafiroff receive an official proclamation as “First Lady of Philanthropy” from New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright in recognition of her immense impact as a philanthropist.

Guests included FHS Board Members Judy McLaren, Kazie Metzger Harvey, and Ann Van Ness, as well as Afsaneh Akhtari, Paola Bacchini Rosenshein, Susan and Gerald Baker, John Barman, Rosalie Brinton, Candace Bushnell, Liliana Cavendish, Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, Terry Corbett, Maria Fishel, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Susan Gutfreund, Rolf Heitmeyer, Sylvia Hemingway, David Hochberg, Margo Langenberg, George Ledes, Jonathan LeWinter, Jonn Nubian, Liane Pei, Barbara Schumacher, Hunt Slonem, Guy Robinson, Patricia Silverstein, Victor de Souza, Barbara Tober, Carole Bellidora Westfall, Pamela Wright, among others.

Founded in 1982, French Heritage Society is an American nonprofit organization with ten chapters in the U.S. and one in France. Its central mission is to ensure that the treasures of our shared French architectural and cultural heritage survive to inspire future generations. Over the past 40 years, FHS has given over 600 restoration grants to properties throughout France and in the U.S. and selected and supported more than 500 university students who have crossed the Atlantic for internships at esteemed institutions. Its emergency Notre-Dame Fire Restoration Fund has raised nearly $2.6 million to date.