French Heritage Society Hosts Sold-Out Palm Beach Gala Dinner

Record-breaking paddle raise supports the organization's Education Program

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The French Heritage Society's annual Palm Beach Gala Dinner at Club Colette was a sold-out success, launching the 2026 fundraising season. The event was chaired by Michel Kovner, Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Liz McDermott Barnes, and Ben Barnes, among others, and featured remarks from FHS leadership and the Consul General of France in Miami. The highlight of the evening was a record-breaking paddle raise to support the organization's Education Program, which provides internship opportunities for students in France and the U.S.

Why it matters

The French Heritage Society plays a vital role in preserving shared French architectural and cultural heritage through restoration grants and educational initiatives. The Palm Beach Gala is a key annual fundraiser that supports these efforts, and the record-breaking paddle raise demonstrates the community's strong commitment to the organization's mission.

The details

The gala was held at the behest of chairmen Michel Kovner and Jean Doyen de Montaillou, with dinner chairmen Liz McDermott Barnes and Ben Barnes, CeCe and Lee Black, Nancy Place and Tom Thaler, and Jean and Martin Shafiroff. Welcome remarks were delivered by FHS Chairman Timothy Corrigan, FHS Events Chair CeCe Black, and Raphaël Trapp, Consul General of France in Miami. FHS Executive Director Jennifer Herlein spotlighted the organization's Education Program, which supports undergraduate and graduate students through internship opportunities in France and the U.S. The program became a focal point of the night's giving, with a record-breaking paddle raise led by Brett Sherlock, an international consultant at Christie's.

  • The gala was held on March 2, 2026.

The players

Michel Kovner

Gala chairman for the French Heritage Society.

Jean Doyen de Montaillou

Gala chairman for the French Heritage Society.

Liz McDermott Barnes

Dinner chairman for the French Heritage Society's Palm Beach Gala.

Ben Barnes

Dinner chairman for the French Heritage Society's Palm Beach Gala.

Timothy Corrigan

Chairman of the French Heritage Society.

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What they’re saying

“The program became a focal point of the night's giving, with a record-breaking paddle raise led by Brett Sherlock, an international consultant at Christie's.”

— Jennifer Herlein, Executive Director, French Heritage Society (offthemrkt.com)

What’s next

The French Heritage Society's upcoming calendar includes its Annual Presentation in Paris on March 17, the April in Paris Luncheon in Palm Beach on April 6, the Dîner des Mécènes in Paris on May 20, and a Summer Soirée in the Hamptons on July 17.

The takeaway

The French Heritage Society's sold-out Palm Beach Gala Dinner demonstrates the community's strong support for the organization's mission to preserve shared French architectural and cultural heritage. The record-breaking paddle raise for the Education Program highlights the importance of the organization's educational initiatives in furthering this goal.