On the evening of August 10, guests gathered under a starry sky in Southampton for a benefit in support of the Amy Winehouse Foundation. The late singer’s parents Janis and Mitch Winehouse (pictured above) joined over two hundred guests at the event, held at the home of foundation board member David Hyrck.
The fundraiser gala was the work of Amy Winehouse Foundation board members, including Hyrck, Monte Lipman, Alan Serrins and Exective Director Julie Muraco. Guests included Cheri Kaufman, Rod and Judy Gilbert, Catherine Saxton, Patrick J. Harvey, Eric Goldberg, Hana Bisceglie, Trenton Harrison-Lewis, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and Taja Sevelle. Mitch Winehouse paid tribute to his daughter by taking to the stage to perform a few ballads, with the help of the Dominick Farinacci Band. At the end of the night, beautiful candle-lit lanterns were released into the sky in a touching memorial.
The Amy Winehouse Foundation was set up to honor the memory of the singer, whose life was cut short when she passed away in July 2011, a victim of alcohol poisoning. Winehouse shot to fame following the 2006 release of her critically acclaimed album Back to Black, but suffered a well-publicized battle with drugs and alcohol. Since Winehouse’s passing, the artist’s family has worked tirelessly to honor her and her remarkable musical legacy. The Amy Winehouse Foundation supports charities around the world that provide help, support or care for young people in need due to ill health, disability, financial disadvantage or addiction.
In October, the Amy Winehouse Foundation will host a gala at the Waldorf Astoria in celebration of its Inspiration Awards, where Tony Bennett, Salaam Remi and Nas will be honored.
