Championing Education In The Hamptons With The MacDella Cooper Foundation

[Ramona Singer, LuAnn de Lesseps, Alex McCord. Photos via Marc Hall Photography] Humanitarians and celebrities traded their polo garb for cocktail attire and headed to Southampton after the games this past Saturday for the inaugural Champions of Education Benefit. Held by the MacDella Cooper Foundation, the proceeds from the night's events will go to the first tuition-free school in post-war Liberia. Conducted in the Four Seasons Caterer Southampton the benefit included a red carpet followed by a VIP cocktail reception which brought out guests including...

fashionista Nole Marin, to NFL star Brandon Short, Hamptons party girls Ariel Moses and Jasmin Rosemberg, and almost the whole Real Housewives of New York crew. Yes, Ramona Singer, LuAnn de Lesseps, Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen, were all there in full force. Good thing, seeing as all these ladies are on the host committee! And what a great cause to host - The MacDella Cooper Foundation, founded in 2004, helps to empower Liberian youth, particularly orphans and abandoned children, through education. MacDella Cooper herself was there to share her powerful story, and looked amazing doing so. The benefit also featured a fashion show by the fair-trade designer Lalesso, a silent auction, and a presentation by acclaimed architect Winka Dubbeldam of Archi-Tectonics, who designed the MCF Academy. “In signature MCF style, we are giving fashion a cause and hosting an exclusive evening of elegance that will have a global impact,” said MacDella Cooper. “This one night of glamorous giving will ultimately help us change the lives of generations of children in Liberia and Africa, by funding construction of the MCF Academy,"she added. A good party, for an even greater cause.

Brandon Short (NFL), Samantha Fennell, MacDella Cooper

Lalesso fashion models with designers Olivia Kennaway and Alice Heusser

Jasmin Rosemberg, Ryland Hilbert IV, Carson Griffith, Kendra Seay

Dolly and Barry Segal (Segal Family Foundation), Heidi Albertsen, Simon van Kampen, MacDella Cooper, Alex McCord, Farrah Fogarty (MCF Director of Finance)