Jill Rappaport to Be Honored at Unconditional Love Gala

Where can you get unconditional love these days? Even out in the Hamptons where everyone seems to be upbeat, happy and engaged in life, finding a little unconditional love seems evasive or conditional.

With that said, thank heaven for pets! Whether it is dogs, cats, horses or bunnies, we can always count on these wonderful creatures to love us wholly and completely, no matter what.

Keeping that feeling in mind, consider attending the Southampton Animal Shelter’s Fourth Annual Unconditional Love Dinner Dance Gala. This charitable event is to benefit the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation which is in need of funds to continue the good work it does to save pets and adopt them into happy homes.

Southampton Animal Shelter’s mission is to provide for the welfare of animals and reduce the number of homeless pets. As stated on its website, “Proceeds raised will be directed not only to our exemplary daily care of the shelter animals, but also to our special projects undertaken over the past year.” Included are the shelter’s rescue efforts for dogs enslaved in puppy mills and programs they’ve developed for special needs children.

This year’s event honors author and animal advocate Jill Rappaport, who was  awarded the first Pet Philanthropy Circle Pet Humanitarian Award in 2012, the Presidential Service Award for Media Excellence from the ASPCA in November and numerous other accolades.

Featuring Honorary Chairs Susan Allen, Jonathan McCann and Jean Shafiroff, Honorary Corporate Chairs, Allen & Co. and Sequin Jewelers, and Master of Ceremonies Chuck Scarborough, the Unconditional Love Gala is scheduled for July 20 at the lovely waterfront home of Sandra McConnell. Cocktails begin at 7 p.m. and a dinner dance commences at 8 p.m.

In other pet news, Rappaport has released a new line of pet collars. The Today show correspondent recently introduced “Jill Rappaport’s Rescued Me Collection,” a line of neon leashes/collars, horse halters and lead lines promoting rescue and adoption. A portion of the proceeds will benefit animal cancer causes and shelters. She also just launched her equestrian jewelry line “Hannah’s Heart” with London Jewelers, which is named for Rappaport’s beloved late mare. All proceeds from Hannah’s Heart will benefit the ASPCA.

For more information and tickets to the Unconditional Love Gala, contact Taylor Van Deusen at 631-965-5293 or email tailoredproductions@gmail.com.

Check out southamptonanimalshelter.com and watch the video below to learn more about this worthy organization.