Hunt Slonem Honored at Casita Maria’s Sold-Out Fiesta! 2026 Gala at The Plaza

Jean Shafiroff, Jackie Weld Drake and Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia chaired the New York benefit, celebrating art, philanthropy and 92 years of Casita Maria.

Artist Hunt Slonem was among the honorees at Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education’s Fiesta! 2026 Gala, held at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The sold-out celebration, chaired by Jean Shafiroff, Jackie Weld Drake and Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, brought together artists, philanthropists and New York society figures for an evening of dinner, dancing and fundraising.

Slonem, known for his colorful paintings of bunnies and butterflies, was honored alongside philanthropist Sonia Gutt deHaime and Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas, who received the Jackie Weld Drake Living Legend Award.

The evening marked Casita Maria’s 92nd anniversary and set a fundraising record for the gala. Rodriguez-Cubeñas announced a $100,000 commitment from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, helping inspire a spirited paddle raise that brought in more than $200,000 on the spot.

Shafiroff turned heads in a turquoise Malan Breton ballgown, while music by Bob Hardwick Sound kept the celebration moving.

Notable guests included Sharon Bush, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Frederick Anderson, Fe and Alessandro Fendi, Estrellita and Daniel Brodsky, Martha Bograd, Gloria and Carey Fieldcamp, Sissi Fleitas, Roberta Houghton, Kamie Lightburn, Elizabeth Meigher, Juan Montoya, Maribel Lieberman, Marc Rosen, Mary Snow, Adrienne and Gigi Vittadini, Saundra Whitney and Adolfo Zaralegui, along with Casita Maria Executive Director Felix Urrutia and Artistic Director Gail Heidel.

Founded in 1934, Casita Maria provides arts and educational opportunities for children, families and communities in the Bronx and beyond.

Photos: BFA/ Kevin Czopek, PMC / Patrick McMullan

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 .