Last night we attended a fundraiser benefiting the pediatric blood and marrow transplantation research of Dr. Mitchell Cairo at Columbia University Medical Center. The event was held at the home of a friend of a friend on Mecox Road in Water Mill. Had we driven down the street to Halsey Lane, another cancer event was in progress, a benefit for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. And a mile up the street at an Ocean Road home, was the Hampton Library benefit, which we are embarrassed to say we skipped. And John McCain was raising campaign loot at yet another Water Mill home.  Four fundraising events, all with little or no-mass publicity, held at exactly the same time, within a two-mile Bridgehampton-Water Mill south-of-the-highway radius.  (Ed. Note 7/30/08 - oops, the McCain event was actually north of the highway on Deerfield.)

While yesterday's New York Times cover story heralded the decline in glitz and ticket sales at Hamptons benefits as evidence of our ever-cascading economy, the piece neglected the impact of the burgeoning of smaller, often non-publicized fundraisers, the 'Private Residence Benefit Circuit.'  Just as high-end children's designers Best & Co. and Papo d'Anjo host summer 'trunk shows' at Middle Lane McMansions, an ever-increasing roster of causes host word-of-mouth events, generally 6:00-9:00pm cocktails, rather than seated gala dinners. A smart trend—no one really wants to attend evening-long events; a quick drink and you can run home to your house guests. While these 'Private Residence' parties are not private, the 75-200 attendees they attract are predominately friends of friends of the hosts and committee members.  Identifiable names, but not to most Hamptons Magazine party page readers. Many of the event beneficiaries seem to be stem cell researchers and out-of-town, or even international politicians.

Among the beleagured galas discussed in the Times, are widely-promoted parties that are both entertainment and theater. These parties attract a committed local following, as well-as visitors, who pay for a high-priced night out to experience the Hamptons 'scene'. Ticket sales are driven by Peggy Siegel-style party buzz. Since the purpose is fundraising, that's just fine. Everyone getting off the jitney with a room in Sag Harbor can buy a ticket and gawk at a Baldwin, a Gossip Girl cast member or Russell Simmons.

Last night, in addition to the two cancer research benefits, the McCain fundraiser and the library party, you could also have attended  the Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation benefit, the Cystic Fibrosis benefit at Diamond Ranch, the Bay Street Theatre Gala benefit , the Jay Lockett Sears Mission of Kindness benefit in Westhampton, the Wildlife Rescue Center party in Southampton and for those in the design set, the Hamptons Designer Showhouse Preview Party benefiting Southampton Hospital or the LongHouse Reserve Summer Gala. And a Peconic Land Trust benefit was held on Shelter Island.  There were others too.

While attendance at the big-name events might be in an overall decline, it is true that some of the money that might go to local organizations is being redirected to events that, while worthy, are not local in nature. That's the balance. While the multiple homeowner set brings their pet charities here, to partake in the bottomless pit that has been Hamptons summer fundraising, the need remains to attract this summer money to the vital local organizations that depend on it.

Ed. Note 7/29/08 - Tracy Mitchell, GM of Bay Street, reports today that their event was a sell out with a waiting list for tickets.