The Campaign to Save Hempstead House

Friends of the Sands Point Preserve will partner with Atelier Swarovski and Glenn Bradford Fine Jewelry for a ‘Shop for a Cause’ event on November 19 – 22 to launch an awareness campaign to raise essential capital funds to restore Hempstead House, an historic Gold Coast mansion on the Sands Point Preserve, a 216-acre Nassau County park.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only cocktail reception on Thursday, November 19, hosted by fashion icon Iris Apfel and sponsored by Atelier Swarovski. Glenn Bradford’s 14th Annual ‘Shop for a Cause’ opens its doors to the public on Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 11AM – 6PM. A portion of its proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Sands Point Preserve to support the Campaign to Save Hempstead House.

The Shop for a Cause fundraising event at Hempstead House, “Objects of Desire,” is an important jewelry and fine art event from the Gatsby Era to today, curated by Sharyn and Glenn Bradford. The event will feature some of the most coveted estate jewelry, diamonds, and rare watches, including signed pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Rolex and Patek Philippe as well as Glenn Bradford’s Award-Winning Collections, exclusive Atelier Swarovski Collections and artwork from three distinguished artists: Sharyn Bradford, Rachelle Krieger and Beth O’Donnell. On Saturday, Gatsby-era expert Monica Randall will speak from 4-5PM Sunday afternoon’s schedule features poetry readings and jazz, organized by poet Stefanie Lipsey.

Designed by the renowned architects Hunt and Hunt in 1912 for Howard Gould, son of railroad tycoon Jay Gould, Hempstead House is one of the few Gold Coast mansions remaining, and the only one located on a public property on Long Island’s North Shore.

The estate was once the home of steel magnate and philanthropist Daniel Guggenheim and his wife Florence, whose son Harry later built his home, Falaise, on the estate, where Charles Lindbergh was a frequent visitor.

The majestic Hempstead House, while structurally sound, is in need of extensive exterior restoration work. Without these vital repairs, the building – encompassing 40 enormous rooms with mahogany paneling, hand-carved stone fireplaces, a 60-foot-tall entry foyer, and expansive views of formal gardens, natural woods and the Long Island Sound – will continue to deteriorate, and ultimately reach a point where it must be demolished.

“We are rolling up our sleeves in our campaign to save a Long Island historic treasure,” said Karli Hagedorn, chairman of Friends of the Sands Point Preserve. “Private events and film/TV production done at Hempstead House generate essential revenue for the programs and services that we provide to the public. Without critical restoration in the near future, the building will eventually be beyond repair – and the impact will be felt by the community. In just the last years alone, we’ve seen Lands End – the house said to be F. Scott Fitzgerald’s inspiration for “The Great Gatsby” – and Infisada, just off Searingtown Road, demolished. We don’t want to repeat the same fate here.”

Hempstead House is a crucial component to the Sands Point Preserve that offers year-round cultural arts, fitness and family educational programs. Nassau County contributes 10 percent of the Preserve’s operating budget, and Friends of the Sands Point Preserve raises the entire balance. Popular to film and TV producers, and an ideal setting for weddings and corporate events, Hempstead House plays a critical role in providing funds for the Preserve’s operation.

Without Hempstead House, the Friends organization, formed in 2003 to ensure the Preserve’s future, cannot keep this public property afloat. The Campaign to Save Hempstead House includes the pursuit of state, federal, corporate and private contributions to bring the structure back to its original glorious state.

“We felt an obligation and true sense of urgency to act and to raise awareness to save the property,” Glenn Bradford said. “We called on our friends and long-time partners at Atelier Swarovski, who are extremely philanthropic, to partner with us as founding sponsors of the Campaign to Save Hempstead House.”

Shop for A Cause sponsors include Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty; The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Long Island, North Hills; and The Treiber Family Foundation and Peter & Irene Treiber. Media Sponsors include 25A Magazine, Anton Media Group and Long Island Pulse Magazine.

For information, or to purchase a 12-month membership, visit TheSandsPointPreserve.org, call 516-571-7901 or visit the Gate House at 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY, 11050, open daily from 8:00AM to 5:00PM.

Friends of the Sands Point Preserve is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to protect and preserve the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions, and to provide a range of cultural arts events and educational programs for families and schools in the Phil Dejana Learning Center.