Friends of the Sands Point Preserve will partner with Atelier Swarovski and Glenn Bradford Fine Jewelry for a Shop for a Cause event on Nov. 19 to 22 to launch an awareness campaign to raise funds to restore Hempstead House, an historic Gold Coast mansion on the Sands Point Preserve.
The event kicks off with an invitation-only cocktail reception on Thursday, Nov. 19, hosted by fashion icon Iris Apfel and sponsored by Atelier Swarovski. Glenn Bradford’s 14th Annual Shop for a Cause opens its doors to the public on Friday, Nov. 20, through Sunday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A portion of its proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Sands Point Preserve to support the campaign to Save Hempstead House.
The Shop for a Cause fundraising event at Hempstead House, “Objects of Desire,” is an important jewelry and fine art event from the Gatsby era to today, curated by Sharyn and Glenn Bradford. The event will feature estate jewelry, diamonds and rare watches, including signed pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Rolex and Patek Philippe as well as Glenn Bradford’s award-winning collections, exclusive Atelier Swarovski Collections and artwork from three distinguished artists:
Sharyn Bradford, Rachelle Krieger and Beth O’Donnell. On Saturday, Gatsby-era expert Monica Randall will speak from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday’s schedule features poetry readings and jazz, organized by poet Stefanie Lipsey.
The majestic Hempstead House, while structurally sound, is in need of extensive exterior restoration work. Without these vital repairs, the building, encompassing 40 rooms with mahogany paneling, hand-carved stone fireplaces, a 60-foot-tall entry foyer, and expansive views of formal gardens, natural woods and the Long Island Sound, will continue to deteriorate, and ultimately reach a point where it must be demolished.
“We are rolling up our sleeves in our campaign to save a Long Island historic treasure,” said Karli Hagedorn, chairman of Friends of the Sands Point Preserve. “Private events and film/TV production done at Hempstead House generate essential revenue for the programs and services that we provide to the public. Without critical restoration in the near future, the building will eventually be beyond repair—and the impact will be felt by the community. In just the last years alone, we’ve seen Lands End—the house said to be F. Scott Fitzgerald’s inspiration for The Great Gatsby—and Infisada, just off Searingtown Road, demolished. We don’t want to repeat the same fate here.”
Hempstead House is a crucial component to the Sands Point Preserve that offers year-round cultural arts, fitness and family educational programs. Nassau County contributes 10 percent of the Preserve’s operating budget, and Friends of the Sands Point Preserve raises the entire balance. Popular with film and TV producers and an ideal setting for weddings and corporate events, Hempstead House plays a critical role in providing funds for the Preserve’s operation.
Without Hempstead House, the Friends organization, formed in 2003 to ensure the Preserve’s future, cannot keep this public property afloat. The campaign to Save Hempstead House includes the pursuit of state, federal, corporate and private contributions to bring the structure back to its original glorious state.
“We felt an obligation and true sense of urgency to act and to raise awareness to save the property,” Glenn Bradford said. “We called on our friends and long-time partners at Atelier Swarovski, who are extremely philanthropic, to partner with us as founding sponsors of the campaign to Save Hempstead House.”
Shop for A Cause sponsors include Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty; The Ritz-Carlton Residences, North Hills; and The Treiber Family Foundation and Peter and Irene Treiber. Media Sponsors include 25A Magazine, Anton Media Group and Long Island Pulse Magazine.
For more information, visit www.thesandspointpreserve.org or call 516-571-7901. Friends of the Sands Point Preserve is a nonprofit organization with the mission to protect and preserve the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions.
