The South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center will present its 32nd annual gala, “The Journey Forward: Reconnecting Through Nature,” on Saturday, July 31, from 6 to 9:30 PM.
The event will commemorate 32 years of leadership in nature conservation and education, and growth from a small nature clubhouse founded in 1988 by SOFO Board President Andrew Sabin and a group of South Fork naturalists concerned about the future of the area’s fragile ecosystems, to an acclaimed state-of-the-art museum highly regarded for its outstanding nature exhibits and over 270 annual educational programs focusing on environmental stewardship, climate change, sustainable energy, marine science, community outreach, and more. SOFO works with people of all ages, offering hope and purpose as we strive to ensure the well-being and sustainability of our planet.
This year’s summer gala benefit will honor Dr. Indy Burke, an ecosystem ecologist and the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. Dean at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies; Michael B. Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice and Director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School; Chef Kerry Heffernan, Chef at Grand Banks in Manhattan, a seafood sustainability and conservation leader who serves on the City Harvest Food Council; and environmentalists and long-time SOFO friends Kim and Greg Lippmann (SOFO Board Trustee) and their family. The event will be hosted by Ambassador, Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, a world renowned chef, who began her international culinary journey at Michelin three-star restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris; Carole Crist, American businesswoman and former First Lady of Florida; and Dottie Herman, CEO of Douglas Elliman Real Estate LLC.
The event will start with a VIP cocktail reception featuring tours of the museum and grounds, music by Alfredo Merat, and ambassadors for native wildlife from the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center.
Dinner will follow with entertainment by Modern Mentalist Kevin Nicholas and dancing with DJ Danja. There will also be a live auction.
The mission of SOFO is to “stimulate interest in, advance knowledge of, and foster appreciation for the natural environment, with special emphasis on the unique natural history of Long Island’s South Fork.”
Tickets start at $550. Visit www.sofo.org/summer-gala.