Dîners des Mécènes

The Dîners des Mécènes bring together French and American donors, patrons and distinguished guests to socialize and raise funds to help carry out major restoration projects. These are generally organized in conjunction with the Chairman’s Circle Trip. In September 2008, the first dinner was held at the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris’ Marais district.

The celebration was held in conjunction with the “Biennale des Antiquaires” trip to visit private collections; along with receptions given by several renowned antique dealers. Magnificent 18th-century furnishings were displayed at dinner courtesy of the dealers and the evening’s sponsors, French Heritage Society supporters Pierre-Olivier Chanel, Jean and Alain Berger and Bernard de Leye.

The evening’s distinguished guests included President and Madame Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Elizabeth F. Stribling, Chairman of French Heritage Society, Denis de Kergorlay, President, Christian de Longevialle, Président de la Fondation de la Maison de la Chasse et de la Nature and French and American members and patrons. The event honored Marie-Sol de La Tour d’Auvergne for her 25 years of devoted service to the association. The Marie-Sol de La Tour d’Auvergne rose, especially created for the occasion by Jean-Pierre Guillot, was presented.

The dinner allowed the association to award a $25,000 restoration grant for the chapel of the Hôtel-Dieu in Lyon. In June 2010, another prestigious Dîner des Mécènes was held in the elegant apartments of Général Dary, the Military Governor of Paris at the Hôtel des Invalides in the heart of the city. The dinner was organized in conjunction with the French Heritage Society trip “Jefferson in Paris.” The memorable evening brought distinguished American and French patrons and guests together with scholars, corporate and business leaders. French Heritage Society excels at combining exclusive cultural events with the refinement of the French art de vivre. Such events support architectural heritage, create excitement and offer conviviality in the process.