Holiday House Hamptons Goes Virtual to Support Breast Cancer Research

Iris Dankner finds a new way to launch her beloved show home—and fundraise for BCRF

For more than 10 years, Holiday House has been one of BCRF’s most celebrated and unique fundraisers. BCRF Advisory Board member and 23-year breast cancer survivor Iris Dankner has rallied the design community around research by inviting interior decorators to transform rooms in show houses in New York, the Hamptons, and London. Since 2008, Holiday House has raised more than $1.4 million for BCRF by selling tickets for show house tours and other events.

As Dankner was gearing up for the launch of another exciting Holiday House Hamptons—her fourth show home in the area—she was also seeing the headlines about the COVID-19 pandemic. It became clear that the Holiday House could not safely open its doors for tours and events, and Dankner realized she needed to make a plan B.

“During these uncertain times it was important for us to still keep the Holiday House alive—and continue to raise money to find a cure—but it was also important to keep our design community, sponsors, and attendees safe and healthy,” she said.

In lieu of showcasing the Holiday House Hamptons in person this year, Dankner took her fundraiser “virtual” by teaming up with Hamptons Magazine to photograph a room-by-room tour (see the feature here) and encourage Holiday House fans to support BCRF’s research through her fundraising page.

“Iris’s tireless commitment to ending breast cancer has never wavered in the midst of this most challenging time,” BCRF President and CEO Myra J. Biblowit said about this year’s Holiday House. “We couldn’t do our critical work without her and the community of talented designers she galvanizes each year.”

This year’s Virtual Holiday House Hamptons featured notable designers including: Alyssa Kapito Interiors, Amy Lau Design, Ariel Okin, Barbara Ostrom Associates, Blatt Billiards, Ciuffo Cabinetry, Debra Geller Interior Design, Elsa Soyars Interiors, ID Creations, Jolie Korek & Company, Kristen Farrell Home, Melanie Roy Design, The Lewis Design Group, Unlimited Earth Care, Vicente Wolf Associates, and Winter McDermott Design.

For more information and updates on future Holiday Houses, visit holidayhousehamptons.com (fall 2020) and holidayhousenyc.com (summer 2021), or follow @holidayhousedesigns on Instagram.