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The Nature Conservancy’s 2008 Beaches and Bays Gala Raises Record $700,000 for Conservation

Chris Browne Honored for Outstanding Contributions to Conservation

East Hampton, NY — July 3, 2008 — More than 500 guests joined The Nature Conservancy to celebrate the annual Beaches and Bays Gala on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the East Hampton home of Libby and Shahab Karmely. A junior’s “after-party” was held in the courtyard lounge.

The Beaches and Bays Gala is an annual celebration that draws hundreds of supporters of The Nature Conservancy’s conservation work. The gala raised a record $700,000, including revenue from a live auction, with Sotheby’s Vice President, Ben Doller. Funds raised from the gala will help support The Nature Conservancy’s “Campaign for a Sustainable Planet,” an initiative to double land protection efforts locally and across the globe.

“This year’s Beaches and Bays Gala is our most successful event to date,” said Nancy Kelley, executive director of The Nature Conservancy on Long Island. “The Nature Conservancy applauds the Gala’s wonderful leadership and appreciates the generous support of everyone who attended.” 

Gala honoree, Chris Browne, was recognized for his commitment to and major financial support of Long Island’s environment. The event was chaired by Leslie and Brian Brille and Mary Kathyrn and Alex Navab. The Journal was co-chaired by Polly Bruckmann and Marilyn Breslow. The Junior Committee was co-chaired by Alexandra Hughes and Robert Wainwright.

Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and dinner catered by Glorious Food Catering and danced to the music of the Paul Richard’s Band of Hank Lane Music and Productions. Major corporate sponsors of the event included Bank of America and U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. 

On Long Island, The Nature Conservancy has helped to preserve more than 150,000 acres. Visit us on the web at nature.org/longisland.