Giving Rye: Meet the Rye Fund for Education
Giving Rye is a new occasional feature highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Barbara Haley of the Rye Fund for Education.
Your Name: Barbara Haley
Organization: Rye Fund for Education
Your role: VP Communications
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.
Haley: Rye Fund for Education is dedicated to raising money to fund grants that enhance curriculum within the Rye City School District, as well as to fund innovative programs not covered by the district’s annual budget. Our mission is to ensure every student has the resources they need to reach their full potential. RFE exclusively funds grants that directly benefit the Rye City School District and its students.
How long have you operated in Rye?
Haley: Rye Fund for Education was originally founded in March of 2013. After a hiatus during the pandemic, the Fund relaunched in September of 2022. This is our third year.
What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for?
Haley: The Rye Fund for Education funds grants that support Academics, Arts and Athletics, helping the school district to enhance the quality of public education in Rye. We seek to engage the community to support us in this important mission.
- Academics: RFE has funded over 35 Academic Grants ranging from Brain Boxes and Classroom Libraries at the Elementary Schools to funding for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at RHS.
- Athletics: RFE has funded three Athletic Grants including a new scoreboard for Nugent Field and Gross Motor Materials for Elementary Schools.
- Arts: RFE has funded five Arts Grants including Percussion Equipment and an Animation Studio at RHS.
Looking forward to 2025, what will be your top initiatives?
Haley: Our focus in 2025 will continue to be raising awareness of the important role RFE plays within the community. We seek to engage more families as well as local businesses in our mission. By deepening our partnership with the community, we can increase the impact of our grants, which remains our top priority.
- Continue community outreach through emails, social media and special events that bring the community together to learn about RFE.
- Focus on fostering community participation, not only in fundraising efforts but also in encouraging the sharing of ideas and feedback, to ensure every voice is heard.
- Continue to carefully evaluate and approve the most impactful grants that advance academic excellence, foster creativity in the arts, and promote athletic excellence in Rye.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Haley: RFE serves all students of the Rye City School District as well as teachers and administrators. RFE liaisons partner with RCSD teachers and administrators to ensure the best grants are being put forward for consideration.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Haley: Yes.
Looking back across 2024, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Haley: With the support from the community, in fiscal 2024, RFE more than doubled our fundraising from 2023. We funded over $460,000 in grants that had direct impact across all five schools.
- Raised over $670,000
- Funded 29 grants impacting all five schools
- Continued to build on our great team of volunteers
How can local residents support your organization?
Haley: Now through November 30th, we are running our RFE Annual Appeal Campaign. We are asking the community to come together to help raise funds to strengthen our schools and support our students. Our goal for this campaign is community participation. This is the perfect way to help RFE make a difference. Every donation counts and no donation is too small to make a difference!
We are also always looking for volunteers and encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to us or speak to one of our board members. We have many fun and engaging volunteer roles available.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Since our relaunch in 2022, we’ve enjoyed a strong and loyal following, with many families generously contributing to our Annual Appeal campaign and attending our Spring Gala. We are also encouraged by the growing interest from RCSD alumni in joining our mailing list and getting involved with RFE.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Haley: I joined RFE during the relaunch in 2022; this is my third year as VP of Communications.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Haley: The role is a volunteer position that I am very happy to give my time to. While usually requiring only a few hours a week, the time commitment ramps up quite a bit during our Annual Campaign and our Spring Gala.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Haley: Dedicated
Where did you grow up?
Haley: I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil so I had a very different childhood than my sons have here in Rye. I moved to the US when I was 17 years old and finished high school in Florida before moving to New York City for college.
What is your favorite unimportant thing about you?
Haley: I am a good karaoke singer.
If the next five years is a chapter in your life, what is this chapter about?
Haley: I have a 10th grader and a 7th grader so I guess the next five years of my life will really be their coming-of-age chapter. As they grow into young men, I know this chapter will bring a mix of emotions, with plenty of tears as I say goodbye to my babies. I am really looking forward to the ride though.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
Haley: I would climb the Pedra da Gávea in Rio. Scary high hike in Rio, is kind of a rite of passage. I have wanted to do it since I was a teenager and never had the courage.
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Haley: I live in Rye Gardens near Osborn Elementary. We have been in Rye since 2017.
Thanks Barbara!
Learn more:
Haley bio: Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Barbara moved to New York City at age 19 to study musical theatre. While living in New York she fell in love with fashion and started her career at Ralph Lauren. Barbara continued to work in the fashion industry for the next 20 years as an executive at Victoria’s Secret and J.Crew with a focus on merchandising and marketing. Barbara has two sons, Caio, 15 and Parker, 12. While raising her sons in the city she worked full time and served on the Avenues School PO board from 2013 to 2016. In 2017, Barbara moved to Rye with her family. Since pausing her career to focus on her family, Barbara has worked as a consultant and acted as Spirit Wear chair for Osborn Elementary and Rye Middle School. She has served as VP of communications for Rye Fund for Education since Fall 2022.
