A Gift for Project Most
Some people give to charities that support environmental conservation or the welfare of animals. Educational causes are the choice of Pat McKibbin, who owns the Mary’s Marvelous stores in East Hampton and Amagansett with his wife, Mary Schoenlein.
“To me, that’s kind of where it all starts,” he said.
To support education locally, Mr. McKibbin and Ms. Schoenlein have offered the space next door to their Newtown Lane market to Project Most, the nonprofit organization that runs after-school and summer programs for children in the East Hampton and Springs School Districts. Project Most has the 350-square-foot space rent-free through the end of September, and in the month of June is using it to preview works of art that will be up for auction at its Eileen’s Angels benefit on Sunday.
“They are one of our favorite local nonprofits,” Mr. McKibbin said. “Retail has changed a little bit, and it wasn’t working out for us on that side . . . but we didn’t want an empty space, so we got in touch with Project Most to see if they wanted to use it as fund-raising headquarters.”
On display there now are pieces by artists including Scott Bluedorn, Peter Dayton, April Gornik, Hush, Dalton Portella, Toni Ross, Ellen Watson, and more, all of whom have donated works to the auction. The gallery presentation was curated by Pamela Willoughby, a longtime art adviser and dealer. (Not on display, perhaps needless to say, are the trees that will also be auctioned off on Sunday as part of the Eileen’s Angels benefit, to be held at the Landscape Details Sag Harbor garden.)
Susan Gentile Hackett, Project Most’s director of development, said July, August, and September will bring different exhibits and events to the space.
“Pat and Mary were always trying to figure out what they can do to for us. He calls it ‘fun raising,’ ” Ms. Hackett said. “He said, ‘Just be here all summer. Raise money from people. Tell your story.’ ”
She said Project Most hopes the exposure in East Hampton will give the benefit a boost. It lost a major source of support when the Hamptons Marathon moved from Springs to Southampton. The goal of Eileen’s Angels is to generate $150,000 for the nonprofit.
“Our goal was around $100,000 before we lost the marathon, so we raised our sights,” Ms. Hackett said.
Those who make a donation to Project Most at the gallery will receive coupons for cookies or coffee at Mary’s Marvelous.
The Eileen’s Angels benefit is planned for Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1796 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike in Sag Harbor. The event will honor Michael Derrig of Landscape Details and Edwina von Gal of the Perfect Earth Project. Tickets start at $150 and may also be purchased online at projectmost.org.