Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Brian Jackson of The Rye Foundation, Inc.
Your Name: Brian Jackson
Name of your organization: The Rye Foundation, Inc., part of the The Rye Chamber of Commerce
Your role: Board President
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission
Jackson: The Rye Foundation was established to carry out the philanthropic efforts of The Rye Chamber of Commerce, including, but not limited to, education scholarships for local students.
How long have you operated in or around Rye?
Jackson: The Rye Foundation is newly established in 2025 as the charitable organization of The Rye Chamber of Commerce, which has been operating in Rye for over 20 years. The Rye Foundation will enable donors that support our non-profit efforts and initiatives to receive the recognition and proper benefits of their donations.
Looking forward to 2026, what will be your top initiatives?
Jackson: The Rye Foundation was established to carry out the philanthropic efforts of The Rye Chamber of Commerce, including, but not limited to, education scholarships for local students.
- As the charitable organization of the Rye Chamber of Commerce, The Rye Foundation organizes and hosts Mistletoe Magic, a winter celebration each year. A portion of the proceeds from the event are used to award as many college scholarships to graduating high school seniors that have worked for a chamber member as possible.
- Raise funds to continue and improve the downtown seasonal lighting display (Nov-Feb) in cooperation with Light Up Rye.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Jackson: The Rye Foundation serves both the business community in Rye as an extension of the Chamber of Commerce, while serving the overall Rye community via the events and initiatives that we sponsor. Local and area businesses can become members of the Chamber, where our efforts are concentrated on the promotion, education, and durability of our local businesses and organizations. Those same members and the community at large can support our efforts through membership, participation in scheduled meetings and engagement with sponsored events, such as attending Mistletoe Magic, Sidewalk Sale and Light Up Rye.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Jackson: Yes, The Rye Foundation is recognized by the IRS and NYS as a 501(c)(3) with tax exempt status. The Rye Chamber of Commerce operates as a 501(c)(6).
Looking back across 2025, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Jackson: As a small organization headed by volunteers, we were proud to:
- Establish The Rye Foundation to support the Chamber’s charitable initiatives
- Pair up with Light Up Rye to further enhance the stunning visual seasonal lights in downtown Rye
- Welcoming new board members Micael Malta and William L. Fishman, Esq. to our organization. They were instrumental in the establishment of this organization and the improvement of the Chamber of Commerce internal operations.
How can local residents support your organization?
Jackson: We both welcome and need the support of our local community. Mistletoe Magic and Light Up Rye are both completely donor driven events that would not be possible without the financial generosity of our members and the residents of Rye. There are also many volunteer opportunities for the day of Mistletoe Magic for both adults and high school aged students. [Publisher’s note: subsequent to the completion of this interview, the 2025 Mistletoe Magic celebration was cancelled due to lack of funding.]
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Jackson: While The Rye Foundation is relatively new, the Rye Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize all of our members, especially Tim Cacase of Rafele and Gordito restaurants, Dabney Lee Woglom of Dabney Lee, Sula Pearlman from Coldwell Banker Realtors, Samantha Benson of Sammy+Nat, Micael Malta of JustWorks, and Lawrence W. Fishman, Esq., all fellow volunteer board members for their dedication and hard work to continually sustain and improve the initiatives and operations of both organizations. We would also like to recognize April Saxe, June Hatch, and May Burke from Compass Realtors for their concept and creation of Light Up Rye.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Jackson: I have been the president of the Chamber of Commerce since 2021, joining as the liaison from the Rye City Lions Club in 2019. As The Rye Foundation is newly established in 2025, that role is new, but I am looking forward to many years of service to its mission.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Jackson: All board members of The Rye Foundation are 100% volunteers. We typically are local business owners or residents. I myself work in the financial services industry, while others are restaurant owners, retailers, IT professionals, realtors, and attorneys.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Jackson: Dedicated
Where did you grow up?
Jackson: While I grew up in Tarrytown, I have been a Rye resident for over 30 years now.
What principles guide you when you have to make a difficult decision?
Jackson: Understanding that the right answer is not always the popular one, but the necessary one. Our membership knows I will make the right call, even if that means ruffling some feathers.
Can you share a time when failure taught you more than success ever could?
Jackson: In the context of this role, I have learned that failures are just the tuition of knowing what not to do the next time around. There are no failures, only education. If you don’t try, you’ll never learn.
What excites you most about the future—for yourself or for the world?
Jackson: We are looking to partner with a newer member, the New York Blood Center Enterprises, to host one or more community blood drives in the upcoming year. As we increase our visibility in the community, I know The Rye Foundation can be the driving force behind meaningful and impactful ventures that will benefit the Rye community and organizations.
Where do you live and how many years have you lived there?
Jackson: My wife was born in Rye and our family continues to live near Playland as we have for the past 30 years.
Thanks Brian!
Learn More:
