Our 2025 Annual Country House Benefit was held on June 14, 2025 at the meticulously restored Locust Valley home of renowned interior designer Alfredo Paredes and his husband, Brad Goldfarb. The event was a memorable celebration of preservation, design, and Long Island’s incredible architectural history. This event raised critical funds to support our mission and we are so very grateful for the enormous support shown by our sponsors and donors.
We extend a special thank you to this year’s event co-chairs: Allison Aston, Carolina de Neufville and Asia Baker Stokes, and the members of the 2025 Benefit Committee for their support and dedication.
The Locust Valley home of our hosts—now known as Cocuyo, meaning “firefly” in Spanish—was thoughtfully restored by Alfredo to pay homage to the original architecture. Hosting our Country House Benefit at Cocuyo was a natural choice, as the home was originally built in 1928 by renowned architect Harrie T. Lindeberg, a pioneer of the American Country House movement, for 20th-century portrait artist Frederic Edwin Church.
Alfredo carefully preserved many of the home’s original details—including frescoes of birds painted by Church on the loggia walls, original ceramic tile floors, and cast-iron dragon lanterns—creating a natural synergy for hosting the event at Cocuyo. With utmost respect for the home’s heritage, the original architectural design has been preserved while infusing it with personalized design choices.
Our gracious hosts opened their home to party guests, who enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while taking in the spectacular interiors, beautiful gardens, and exquisite exterior details. Preservation Long Island staff and interns were stationed throughout the property to share information about the house’s history and architectural features.
In the living room of the home, an original Art Deco portrait by Church, named Lady in Charlotte’s Dress, as well as other Church paintings, were on loan for the evening. Returning Church’s artwork to the artist’s former residence was a meaningful gesture that created a connection between the house’s past and present and provided a unique opportunity for Benefit party guests to see his artwork again grace the very walls once called home.
Board President Michelle Elliott Gokey welcomed guests and shared highlights of Preservation Long Island’s work, before introducing the organization’s newly appointed Executive Director, Jackie Powers. For the hosts’ thoughtful approach to restoring their home, the program concluded with Powers presenting Alfredo and Brad with a bronze plaque in recognition of their “Outstanding Preservation Excellence.” This is the inaugural award for a new program at PLI that seeks to recognize homeowners for the sensitive restoration and renovation of historic properties in the region.
All partygoers left with Preservation Long Island’s signature tote bag, filled with gifts from benefit sponsor Farrow & Ball, and each guest also received a signed copy of Alfredo Paredes at Home, Alfredo’s recently released debut book.
We are delighted to share highlights from the gathering below (click on an image or arrow to scroll through the gallery). The entire photo gallery from the event can be viewed online HERE.
Event photography by Mark Sagliocco via Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
