We’re still riding high from the incredible evening that was the Oyster Ball 2025! Our Board President, Todd Shaw, shared his excitement about the event, stating:
“I am so proud of the success of our Second Annual Oyster Ball!”
This year’s celebration was not only a joyful gathering of our community but also a vital fundraiser that will power our Creek Defender Program, water quality monitoring, the Great South Bay Oyster Project, and our advocacy efforts in 2026. None of it would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, partners, and friends.
✨ Thank You to Our Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to the Ferriola Family, the Tonyes Family, and RNC Industries, IMEG Group, Northwell Health, Sam Wood, Richard Remmer, Gibbons Pools and the Mihlstin Family, among others, for their generous sponsorships that made this event possible.
✨ Shell-ebrating Our Oyster Farmers & More
A special shout-out to the incredible oyster farmers who brought the taste of the bay to our tables:
- Neguntatogue Oyster Co.
- Bombshell Oysters
- Little A’s Oysters
And a heartfelt thank you to Red Tiger Seafood, who not only provided oysters but also shucked them fresh for our guests all night long!
Guests also enjoyed the world-renowned Blue Point Oysters, which are exclusive to the Great South Bay and a true point of pride for our local waters.
We were also thrilled to feature Better Man Distilling, who provided a gin pairing and whiskey tasting during cocktail hour—an absolute hit with our guests. And adding to the festive vibe, the Steel Drummer Band set the perfect mood with lively music during cocktails.
✨ Music, Venue & Swag
The Tim Mooney Band kept everyone dancing with their fantastic tunes, while our gracious hosts at Gatsby on the Ocean provided the perfect setting overlooking the sea. We also can’t forget the stylish VIP Swag Bags, made possible by Jetsam Salvage.
✨ Raffles, Art & Collectibles
Guests also had the chance to win from our raffle table of more than sixty baskets and bid on original artwork by local artist Ava Herrera and a custom guitar signed by Kerry Kearney—true highlights of the evening!
✨ Memories to Last
We thank Monroe Events for their outstanding event support and Briggs Houston Photography for capturing the magic—photos will be shared later this week, so stay tuned! Guests also enjoyed a unique opportunity to step into history with Wayne Horsley’s engaging tour of Robert Moses’ office.
✨ Special Guests & Honors
We were honored to welcome Eric Wilburn of the Bezos Earth Fund as our keynote speaker, who explored the environment from both a macro and micro viewpoint—connecting global nature finance to local stewardship on the Great South Bay. We were also thrilled to welcome Erin Colton of News 12 as our emcee and are grateful to Tom Kain for leading the exciting live auction. We were pleased to welcome County Executive Ed Romaine, Senator Steve Rhoads, and Legislators Steve Flotteron, Trish Bergin, Jim Mazzarella, and Stephanie Bontempi. Collaborating with our local public officials is essential to moving forward.
A huge congratulations again to Legislator Kevin McCaffrey, recipient of the 2025 Environmental Pearl Award—a well-deserved honor for his dedication to protecting our waterways.
✨ Gratitude to Leadership & Volunteers
A big thank you to our Oyster Ball Committee Chair, Rhianna Quinn Roddy, for her vision and tireless efforts in bringing this year’s celebration to life with the support of Executive Director Robyn Silvestri, Development Manager Lauren Gaffary and Marketing Coordinator Ava Herrera. And to our incredible (truly amazing!) volunteers—your energy, hard work, and generosity of spirit made this event possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Because of all of you—our sponsors, partners, guests, and volunteers—the Oyster Ball 2025 was a resounding success. Together, we are restoring and protecting the Great South Bay for generations to come.
Until next year, thank you for being part of this mission. 💙🐚🌊