F E AT U R E S
husband Martin Shafiroff. But before that, she worked hard in school. Growing up middle-class in Hicksville, she learned the value of generosity and commitment in Catholic school and continued her education from there. After she obtained her B.S. in physical therapy from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, she worked in the field for a bit before deciding to switch fields. So she applied to and was accepted by the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University. From there, she worked on Wall Street for a short time after earning her M.B.A. During this time, she became a mother to two daughters, Jacqueline and Elizabeth, whom she raised to be caring and interested in community matters. With motherhood came Shafiroff ’s desire to give back to society. Volunteer philanthropy seemed like the perfect fit.
PRIORITIZING HER CAUSES Sharifoff would bring attention and aid to every charity around the globe if she could. She focuses on the causes most important to her: animal welfare, women’s rights and underserved populations. It was with time that Shafiroff began to see how closely interconnected humans and animals are as living beings. “Sixty-five percent of all American households have a pet,” she says. “In this country, our pets are considered companion animals, but in many other countries, this not necessarily the case.” Pet owner education is at the center of Shafiroff ’s fundraising efforts for adoption organizations. “We need to make low-cost or free spay and neuter programs available to people in underserved communities,” she says. She vehemently opposes at-home breeding and puppy mills. “People end up with ten dogs and no one to buy them, so they end up in shelters. Overpopulation is the root of the problem. With education, we’d be much further ahead.” With this in mind, Shafiroff has been mentoring her daughter Elizabeth and her friend Lindsay Spielfogel as they navigate the first stages of their nonprofit, Global Strays. This new 501(c)3 organization makes grants to fund rescue groups in developing nations, such as Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Their goal is to assist with medical funding, spay and neuter programs, education on the proper care of animals, and other efforts. The organization only distributes grants to organizations it has personally visited, which means that Shafiroff is happy to fund trips to developing nations. “Going and actually seeing the work that a charity does can really reinforce your passion,” says Shafiroff, who now sits on the organization’s board. Global Strays held its first fundraiser on June 21 in Manhattan and they expect to have many more in the future.
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WHAT LOOKS EFFORTLESS TAKES EFFORT Not only is Shafiroff emotionally invested in several causes, she is highly practical about fundraising. Each party is a chance to lift a cause to the attention of potential donors. “The primary purpose of a charity event is to bring interest and funding to the charity,” she says. “Then bring visibility and then of course people, although, yes, the event needs to be fun and exciting.” Shafiroff believes that when people get dressed up for an event, they often raise the level of an occasion. She developed her interest in fashion through her involvement as a board member for the museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Shafiroff hosts breathtaking events, but achieving them is hard work. The planning phases of a gala demand an acute business sense, targeted strategy, and a conscientious effort to get every detail exactly right. To plan for the special occasion, she schedules planning meetings — typically conference calls — to go over and polish the logistics of an event well in advance. Contacts will go over an outline point by point, whether that means debating the pros and cons of certain locations or brainstorming potential donors and corporate sponsorships. In addition to smoothing out these and other details, she works to generate enthusiasm about the cause by keeping everyone informed. “A charity event has to be run like a business,” she says. This means Shafiroff keeps a close eye on finances throughout the planning process. Expenses of any charity event should never surpass one-third of the funds collected for an event and “should really be much less,” stresses Shafiroff. While planning and arranging various fundraising events, she creates introductions for the charities being benefitted. Introductions connect charities with key figures, like potential board members and donors. Her expertise in the world of philanthropy led her to write her first book, Successful Philanthropy: How to Make A Life By What You Give. The intro for the title was written by Georgina Bloomberg, and the book has been a bible of sorts for fellow altruists. Of course, she credits her success to a higher power. “As a woman, I feel blessed to be able to do the work I do. It is only with the help of God that I can be useful.” Sometime soon, she plans on writing a second book while continuing her television and radio appearances to discuss philanthropy, fashion, and animal rights. “I find my work so rewarding,” says Shafiroff. “We are obliged to have concern for future generations and all those in need. If we don’t make a big effort in our lifetime to give back, then we’ve really wasted a lifetime.”
Photography: Michael Paniccea Hair stylist: Henry de la Paz for Warren Tricomi Cover: Blue and Pink Dress by b michael AMERICA Earrings by Sequin