Giving Rye: Meet Children’s Philanthropy of Rye

Giving Rye is a new occasional feature highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Christine Groves and Megan Pellarin of Children’s Philanthropy of Rye.

Your Names: Christine Groves and Megan Pellarin

Organization: Children’s Philanthropy of Rye

Your role: Co-Presidents

MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.

Groves and Pellarin: Children’s Philanthropy of Rye is a nonprofit organization committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children in our community. With a passionate belief in the power of philanthropy, we work tirelessly to empower and enrich the lives of children, ensuring they have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.

How long have you operated in Rye? 

Groves and Pellarin: Established in 1933, the Woman’s Club of Rye (WCR) is an organization full of rich history, tradition and love for our community and the people within it. Over the last century, the organization has grown in service and philanthropy, and now prides itself in operating as a charitable and educational 501(c)3 organization in the Rye community.

In 1941, the Woman’s Club of Rye established a section for young women of Rye interested to get involved. In 2005, the “Junior Section” became Children’s Philanthropy of Rye. Today, we are a group of women whose primary purpose is to work together raising money to benefit the children of Rye. Our funds are distributed to qualifying institutions, agencies and groups who support scholarships and/or cultural, educational, emotional or recreational enrichment.

Our programs, services, initiatives and overall approach have the power to directly improve lives and continue to give the next generation of our Rye community a future they can be excited about.

What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for? 

Groves and Pellarin: 

• We are best-known for our longstanding partnership with Rye Recreation to co-sponsor the Halloween Window Painting event held in downtown Rye every October. Our funds help to lower the cost of registration for the entire community to participate. The Children’s Philanthropy also hosts a bake sale during the event in which all proceeds raised by the sale of seasonal treats and refreshments directly benefit the children of Rye. Additionally, we provide funds for Rye Recreation’s summer camp scholarships. Rye Recreation provides a robust summer camp program for those aged 3 through Grade 8. We believe every child in Rye deserves to participate, regardless of financial status and the need for scholarships continues to grow.
• Another initiative we are very proud of is our scholarships to Rye High School seniors who demonstrate they have given their time and energy to volunteer and work with children in our community. These exemplary individuals epitomize our mission and carry on our long-standing tradition of giving back to the community which gives so much to us.
• And most importantly, a majority of our fundraising goes to fulfilling the immediate needs of qualified Rye families every year in the form of food gift cards. During the school breaks when Rye City school children do not have access to hot meals at school, we provide Rye families in need with grocery gift cards to ensure families are fed.

Looking forward to 2024, what will be your top initiatives? 

Groves and Pellarin:  

• Growing our food gift card program for local families is our top priority as the need for support for families in the Rye City School district has grown year after year. Today, there are nearly 70 families living at or below the poverty level in Rye City, up from 60 families in 2022 and 51 families in 2021.
• Building our marketing efforts to educate the community more broadly about our partnerships and how we can work together to help local families. We’ve recently established a new website and intend to grow our social media presence over the course of the coming year.
• Expanding program offerings during the 2024 Halloween Window Painting event to encourage more participation from the community and offer more exciting activities for children to enjoy (i.e. costume parade). 

Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services. 

Groves and Pellarin: As mentioned, the number of families living at or below the poverty level in Rye continues to grow year after year. A majority of our fundraising goes to fulfilling the immediate needs of qualified Rye families every year in the form of food/grocery gift cards. 

Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status? 

Groves and Pellarin: Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status.

Looking back across 2023, what were your organization’s top achievements? 

Groves and Pellarin: 

1. Providing food gift cards during the Thanksgiving and spring break periods for 64 local qualifying families.
2. Supplying 90 holiday gifts to Rye elementary school families and 136 monetary gift cards to Rye middle school and high school families.
3. Offering a scholarship for a Rye High School senior, providing a grant to the Rye Recreation Center and creating a new fundraising website for our organization.

How can local residents support your organization? 

Groves and Pellarin: 

1. We are constantly looking for volunteers to strengthen the sense of community in the group and to help fundraise. We need to continually fundraise in order to meet those needs.
2. Residents can participate in one of our fundraising events or donate at any time on our website, www.ryegives.com.

What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization? 

Groves and Pellarin: 

1. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Rye Recreation who has been a loyal supporter of our efforts in the community.
2. Local photographer Carroll Hudders has collaborated with us to offer Family Portraits in Rye Town Park. The decades-long offering is a perfect way for families to take photos ahead of the holidays. Families pay a nominal sitting fee in which proceeds directly benefit the children of Rye.
3. We’ve received tremendous support from many local businesses. PINK has hosted fundraising shopping events for our organization, while others including Jerry’s, June & Ho and the Rye Country store have donated goods for our Halloween bake sale. 

Tell us about you:

How long have you been in your current role?

Groves: I have been co-president since 2018.

Pellarin: I took on the role of co-president in 2023. 

Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?

Groves and Pellarin: It is a volunteer position.

Thanks, Christine and Megan!

Organization’s website. 

Specific donation link. 

Instagram.