Inside FHS Celestial Ball Kick-Off Party Hosted By Jean Shafiroff
French Heritage Society will host its annual Gala Dinner Dance at a private club in New York City on November 15th. This year, the Celestial Ball will celebrate the historic reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral and recognize the role Americans — both philanthropists and artisans — played in its restoration.
The festive event will have two very special Honored Guests: Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt, interior designer and steadfast champion of FHS and artisans who specialize in French decorative arts, and Hank Silver, the American carpenter who spent a year-and-a-half rebuilding the wooden roof framing of the cathedral’s nave. This highly anticipated, black-tie affair will have music and dancing provided by the Bob Hardwick Sound.
On Wednesday, September 25th, FHS kicked off its busy gala season with festive cocktails hosted by FHS Board Member and former FHS Gala honoree Jean Shafiroff at her residence. Remarks were given by Jean Shafiroff, as well as FHS Events Chair CeCe Black, and FHS Executive Director, Jennifer Herlein.
Guests were further delighted to see New York State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright present Jean and Martin Shafiroff and French Heritage Society with certificates of recognition from New York State for their contributions and service to preserving French architectural and cultural legacy both in the United States and France.
Esteemed guests included: FHS Board Members Jennifer Farrell, Rosann Gutman and Liz McDermott Barnes. Also attending: Pauline Argenson and James Demmert, Allison Baroness von Arnim, Susan and Jerry Baker, Bettina Bennett and Gordon Beck, Lee Black, Sharon Bush, Candace Bushnell, Talia Carner, and more.
Upcoming FHS celebrations include: Dinner at the Residence of the Ambassador of France to the United States Laurent Bili in Washington, D.C. on October 7th, Chairman’s Circle trip to the Côtes du Rhône October 17–23rd, New York Gala Dinner Dance on November 15th, Thanksgiving Dinner in Paris on November 26th, Palm Beach Gala Dinner on February 16th, 2025, and the Diner des Mécènes in Paris on May 20th, 2025.
