On the 248th anniversary of Shaker founder Mother Ann Lee’s arrival on the shores of North America from England, Saturday, Aug. 6, Hancock Shaker Village held its annual summer gala. The celebration and fundraiser was also a tribute and farewell to its departing Executive Director and CEO Jennifer Trainer Thompson. During her six-year tenure, Trainer Thompson added modern art exhibitions, live music concerts and festivals, Food for Thought author dinners, and other events to the historic site’s lineup, while also spearheading efforts to repair and update the Village’s many buildings, as well as reopen the South Family trail and site.

Cocktails and a sit-down dinner by Mezze Catering led into a live auction and performances by Dar Williams, Billy Keane, and Roomful of Teeth's Brad Wells, Virginia Warnken, and Cameron Beauchamp.

Jennifer Trainer Thompson and daughter Isabel with Carol and Bob Stegeman
Gala co-chairs Diane B. Patrick and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick pose with their grandson Gianluca (center), with Diane's sister Lynn Prine and her husband Reggie Prine (left), and Deval's sister Rhonda Patrick (right)
Charlotte Holubar and her mother Michelle Petricca, with Giovanna Fessenden and Dr. Jennifer Michaels of The Brien Center
Lisa Rosenthal, Catherine Fisher and Noah Wertheimer
Elizabeth Dobrska and Brendan Ciecko with Joshua Williams and Shawn Mosely of Santarella Gardens
Gala committee members Joan and Jim Hunter with Bridget Rigas
Deborah Rentz-Moore, Robert Vinas, Susan Plotz and board member Bob Plotz
Susan Madon and Nash Madon
Andy Wrba, board member Carrie Holland, Sam Russo, Meghan Burden and James Burden
Gala guests enjoy dinner, prepared by Mezze Catering, under the tent on the Hancock Shaker Village grounds

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Written by
Amy Krzanik