French Heritage Society Raises Record Funds at Its 2026 Summer Soirée in Bridgehampton

At a Glance

• French Heritage Society welcomed nearly 240 guests to its fourth annual Summer Soirée at the Bridgehampton, New York, home of Maria and Kenneth Fishel.
• The evening was the most successful Summer Soirée, with record attendance and fundraising.
• Proceeds support FHS restoration grants, student internships and educational programming, with a portion benefiting three 2026 New York Chapter preservation grants.
• The soirée was chaired by CeCe Black, Maria Fishel, Rosann Gutman and Ann Van Ness.

The French Heritage Society welcomed nearly 240 guests to its fourth annual Summer Soirée at the Bridgehampton, New York, home of Maria and Kenneth Fishel. Inspired by the elegance of Provence in summer, the evening brought together philanthropists, preservationists and friends of France in support of the organization's mission to preserve French architectural and cultural heritage.

The evening was the most successful Summer Soirée, raising significant funds to support French Heritage Society's restoration grants, student internships and educational programming.

A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the French Heritage Society's New York Chapter, supporting three preservation grants in 2026: Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, and Villa Albertine and St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City.

The soirée was chaired by CeCe Black, Maria Fishel, Rosann Gutman and Ann Van Ness. Guests were welcomed by Maria and Kenneth Fishel, CeCe Black, Rosann Gutman, Ann Van Ness and FHS Executive Director Jennifer Herlein.

Trustees and Benefactor Supporters

Esteemed guests included FHS Trustees Jennifer Farrell, Kenneth Hausman, Brenda Howard and Jean Shafiroff, as well as Benefactor supporters Patricia Cossutta Arostegui and Puly Rincon, Elena Ayot, Nelly Azar Lumia, Elizabeth Belfer, Bettina Bennett, Lee Black, Melanie Boude, Geoffrey Brooke and Margaret Kurtz, Sharon Bush and Bob Murray, Yann Coatanlem and James G. Brooks, Laura Codman and John Terwilliger, Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, Francine Crocker, Noreen Donovan, Galina Fendikevich, Kenneth Fishel, Rodrigo Gamboa, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Nurit Kahane Haase, Catherine and Kenneth Higgins, Bruce Horten, James D. Howard, Franklin Lane, Leonard Lane, Marcela Margo Moore, Janice and Thomas Pecora, Brandon Pena, Julissa Perez, Kathy Prounis, Renata Sanfilippo, Martin Shafiroff, Elizabeth Steimberg and David Weiner, Lauren Summa, Amanda Taylor, Bill Van Ness, Suzie and Pierre Villere, and Carole Bellidora Westfall and David Hayes.

Additional Guests

Additional guests included Jacques Acoca and Ruth Miller, Chris Arlotta, Candace Bushnell, Talia Carner, Alexandra and Bradley Fishel, Veronique Gabai, Sylvia Hemingway, Laya Indukuri and Aravind Srinivasan, Becky Bayless and Frédéric de Joybert, Cheri Kaufman, Suzan Kremer, Christine Miller Martin, Aryan Nair and Solome Sommer, Alberto Mariaca, Lauren and Bob Roberts, Paula and Robert Smalley, Stephanie Smart, Alexandra Staton, Julie Wald, Andrea Wernick, Preston Wilson, Josette Winograd and Pamela Wright.

Generous support was provided by Champagne EPC, Veronique Gabai, Maison Gabrielle, Société de la Rassi and JOG Editions, with art on the table by Christofle, Baccarat and SFERRA. Revel Rouge founder Hank Stampfl created the evening's distinctive Provençal ambiance, while French-American vocalist Quentin Bruno, featured on The Voice: La plus belle voix, joined by Danny Lipsitz and The Brass Tacks, brought guests to the dance floor.

With record attendance and fundraising, this year's Summer Soirée reflected French Heritage Society's growing momentum and expanding community of supporters.

Founded in 1982, French Heritage Society is dedicated to preserving French architectural and cultural heritage and fostering the historic friendship between France and the United States. Over the past 44 years, FHS has awarded over $16.5 million to more than 710 restoration and cultural grants to properties throughout France and in the United States. FHS has also selected and supported nearly 600 university students who have crossed the Atlantic for internships at esteemed institutions. FHS has 12 chapters, 11 in the United States and one in Paris, and membership includes access to all.