FHS 'April in Paris' Palm Beach Luncheon
French Heritage Society hosted their “April in Paris” Palm Beach Luncheon on Monday, April 26, 2021 at The Colony Hotel. As their first in-person event of 2021, the atmosphere was particularly festive as guests enjoyed a catered meal and toasted a brighter future from The Colony’s poolside oasis.
The lovely, sold-out fête was held at the behest of Event Chairs Michael A. Kovner and Jean Doyen de Montaillou. Further flair was provided by Luncheon Chairmen CeCe and Lee Black, Audrey Gruss, Liz McDermott Barnes, FHS Board Chairman Elizabeth Stribling and New York Chapter Co-Chairman Guy Robinson. The event was in the presence of Consul General of France in Miami Laurent Gallissot with Camille Langlois. The Steering Committee included Lee Black, Paul Lowerre, and Guy Robinson. Suzanne Stoll was the Palm Beach Representative.
Esteemed guests included: Board Members Ronald Lee Fleming and Jean Shafiroff. Also attending: Friederike Biggs, Sharon Bush, Susan Cushing, Bill and Regine Diamond, Patricia Duncan, Randy Fishburn and Andrew Sands, Anne Fitzpatrick, Annette Friedland, Lou Hammond, Mai Hallingby Harrison, Linda Hickox, Nicole Hirsch, Linda Hoffman, Kamie Lightburn, Paul and Ursula Lowerre, Denise-Marie Nieman, Natalie Pray, Robin Reardon, Paola Bacchini Rosenshein, John and Barbara Cirkva Schumacher, Daisy Soros, Sherri Stephenson, and Michel Witmer.
Proceeds from the Palm Beach Luncheon benefit French Heritage Society’s mission to ensure that the treasures of our shared French architectural and cultural heritage survive to inspire future generations.
Photos by Annie Watt Agency
About French Heritage Society
French Heritage Society (FHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit American organization in operation since 1982 whose mission is to protect the French architectural and cultural legacy both in France and the United States. Over the past 39 years, our generous members and patrons have helped us ensure that these treasures survive to inspire future generations by supporting our three-fold mission: Preservation, Education and Cultivation of French-American Friendship.
Preservation
FHS raises funds to support the preservation of culturally and historically significant French architecture in France and the U.S. To date, FHS has awarded over $13.2 million (which results in a total of more than $26.4 million being made available due to our required matching funds condition) to over 600 grants to châteaux, historic properties and gardens. FHS also creates special funds for emergency restoration efforts, which have provided critical support following the fire at Notre-Dame in Paris and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Education
Each year, FHS selects and sends around 35 students from prestigious universities in France and the U.S. across the Atlantic for internships at esteemed organizations. Since the program’s inception, over 500 students have benefited from these opportunities.
French-American Friendship
FHS’s network includes ten chapters across the U.S. and one in Paris and collectively, they organize over 50 events each year to raise local awareness about and funds for FHS’s mission. In addition, the FHS community comes together for annual fundraising galas in New York, Palm Beach and Paris. FHS is also known for the specially curated trips to France that it offers its members every year.
