French Heritage Society Kicks Off Le Bal Impérial at Jean Shafiroff’s Park Avenue Home

Philanthropist Jean Shaiforff welcomed guests for cocktails, live music and a touch of French flair to her Park Avenue home ahead of the society’s Nov. 11 Gala Dinner Dance in New York City.

French Heritage Society kicked off its fall gala season on Sept. 29 with cocktails at the Park Avenue home of philanthropist and FHS board member Jean Shafiroff, gathering supporters for a preview of Le Bal Impérial, the organization’s annual Gala Dinner Dance.

The Nov. 11 black-tie gala, to be held at a private club in New York City, will celebrate French savoir-faire, imperial splendor and craftsmanship, with music and dancing by Bob Hardwick Sound and an afterparty to follow.

An Evening on Park Avenue

At Shafiroff’s home, guests gathered for cocktails and remarks from Shafiroff, FHS Events Chair CeCe Black and FHS Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Herlein.

The evening also brought live performances by pianist Yui Kitamura, Wako performer Satochiki and violinist Valentina Paolucci.

New York state Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright presented Shafiroff and French Heritage Society with certificates of recognition from New York state honoring their contributions to preserving French architectural and cultural heritage in the United States and France.

Who Was There

Guests included FHS board member Jennifer Farrell, Elena Ayot, Elizabeth Baltz, Carole Bellidora Westfall and David M. Hayes, Erin Berthoux, Lee Black, Olivia Boude, Louise Braver, Candace Bushnell, Marlon Corvera, Carole Crist, Lauren Day Roberts, Roberta Downs Sandeman Houghton, Maria and Kenneth Fishel, David Hochberg, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Cheri Kaufman, Dr. Marc Lazare, Arlene Lazare, Valerie Lettan, Davy Malinur, Stephanie Mattera, Vicky McLoughlin, Ruth Miller and Jacques Acoca, Mar Morosse, Hunt Slonem, Piet Sinthuchai, and Leesa Rowland, among others.

What’s Ahead for French Heritage Society

Following Le Bal Impérial in New York, French Heritage Society will host its Thanksgiving Dinner in Paris on Nov. 24. The calendar continues with the Palm Beach Gala Dinner on Feb. 21, 2027; Palm Beach Luncheon on April 19, 2027; and the organization’s 45th Anniversary Gala at Les Invalides in Paris on Oct. 8, 2027.

For 44 years, French Heritage Society has worked to preserve French architectural and cultural heritage in France and the United States. The organization has awarded more than 730 restoration and cultural grants and supported nearly 600 university students through trans-Atlantic internships at cultural institutions. FHS has 12 chapters — 11 in the United States and one in Paris.

Photos: PMC/Getty

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .