Responding to an increased need for its services, the Retreat domestic violence organization based in East Hampton has announced an online fund-raiser party and auction to be held on Saturday at 6 p.m. There will be performances and appearances by Mariska Hargitay, Ali Wentworth, Kelly Ripa, Joy Behar, Don Lemon, and others to be announced. There is no charge to take part, though registration at retreatgala.org has been requested by midnight Friday.
Online bidding for a range of items begins on Friday. These include artist-decorated plates and ceramic platters (a Retreat tradition) by Paton Miller, Mae Mougin, Dan Rizzie, and Hans van de Bovenkamp, among others. There are gift certificates, to Macy's, Urban Zen, and the Village Cheese Shop, for example, and even two men's haircuts at Vinnie's Barbershop in Amagansett. A range of travel options — St. Lucia, anyone? — and sports — cardio tennis, anyone? — are offered, as are yoga, cooking and acting classes, wine, college prep, business planning, and floral design. A link to preview the items is at the web page above.
The Retreat is the largest domestic violence agency in Suffolk and provides services such as counseling for adults and children, legal advocacy, prevention education in local schools, and emergency shelter.