Rye Fund for Education’s annual spring gala on Thursday, March 26, 2026 raised over $470,000. Gala Co-Chairs Diane Martin and Tammy Krup, along with RFE President Claudine Hanley, and Vice President Rosana Collinates, hosted over 200 guests at the Westchester Country Club. The money raised funds grants to the Rye City School District, including 30 new grants approved by the RFE board in February.
The group has raised $1.6 million since its relaunch in 2022 including $530K in 2025 and $375K in 2024.
Read: our November profile on RFE: Giving Rye: Meet the Rye Fund for Education.
The recent February grants include:
- Decoding Books ($84K). This grant worth $84K will support the purchase of physical copies of decoding books to complement digital literacy practice for all RCSD K–2 students. These books give early learners immediate access to texts matched to the phonetic skills they are learning, strengthening the connection between instruction and independent reading.
- Digital Cameras ($18K). This grant worth $18K will fund a full class set of modern mirrorless digital cameras for the RHS digital photography and media classes. These cameras will replace students’ current reliance on personal cell phones and aging DSLR equipment and support effective in-class instruction of foundational photography concepts.
- Sound System for Nugent Stadium ($64K) Worth $64K, this grant supports the installation of a permanent sound system at Nugent Stadium, significantly upgrading the district’s current infrastructure. The new system will improve sound quality, reliability, and accessibility for athletic events, ensuring clear communication for athletes, officials, and spectators.
