As many weekenders crawled westbound on the L.I.E. to head back to the city on a Sunday, BeKind founder Frances Hayward warmly welcomed a crowd of nearly 50 guests into her Grey Gardens Hamptons home for her Art for Animals dinner. Weathering the torrential storm, savvy art connoisseurs with soft spots for animals filed in to show their support for the cause as well as honorees Russell Simmons, and Humane Society of the U.S. president Wayne Pacelle.

Feted guests including Eva Beale, Beth Ostrosky, veterinarians Robin Brenner and Jay Kuhlman, Richard and Isabelle Furlaud, Chuck and Cathy Gropper, Lionel Larner, and Campion and Tatianna Platt, noshed on a sumptuous vegan buffet and bid on the 12 x 9 oil Masonite painting of an endearing bunny entitled, “The Hutch,” valued at $3,800 and donated by famed American artist Hunt Slonem.

Once the crowd simmered into seats with plates full of healthy apps, Russell Simmons addressed supporters, noting that it is “criminal” the way some people treat animals, and to better humanity we need to respect all living creatures and allow them their dignity. Frances concluded, saying, “I wanted this evening to be about love of art and love for animals because they both speak to the higher reaches of human spirit.” Amen to that!