Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Alexis DeVane of the Wainwright House.
Your Name: Alexis DeVane
Name of your organization: Wainwright House
Your role: President of the Board of Trustees
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission
DeVane: Wainwright House is dedicated to inspiring greater understanding through spiritual, educational, and cultural programs that foster connection—within ourselves, with one another, and with the natural world. As the oldest non-profit interfaith center in the United States, its mission is to provide a sacred space for personal growth, community well-being, and the common good. Rooted in the belief that peace begins with understanding, Wainwright House continues to serve as a gathering place where all are welcome to learn, reflect, and renew.
How long have you operated in or around Rye?
DeVane: Wainwright House was built between 1929 and 1931 by J. Mayhew Wainwright, modeled after a 17th-century French chateau overlooking Milton Harbor. His daughter, Fonrose Wainwright Condict, later transformed the family estate into a center for spiritual and cultural growth, founding Wainwright House, Inc. as a nonprofit in 1951. Since then, it has continuously served the Rye community as a place for education, reflection, and connection—recognized today as the oldest nonprofit interfaith center in the United States.
![[PHOTO: The Wainwright House. Rye thrives on community spirit, and the Wainwright House perfectly embodies the essence of volunteerism and communal dedication. By Stacey Massey, author of Fall in Love with Rye.]](https://myrye.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/54-Wainwright-1-scaled.jpg)
What programming or work is the organization best known for?
DeVane: Wainwright House is best known as a community center that offers holistic programs that nurture mind, body, and spirit—offering a blend of spiritual exploration, environmental education, community gatherings, and arts and wellness experiences. Its work bridges the past and present, honoring its interfaith roots while fostering connection, creativity, and well-being in the Rye community.
- Cultural Events including Strings on the Sound (summer), fall Line Dancing and Harvest Festivals, and this year we will offer a Rock the Sound: Land and Sea Edition. These five cultural events feature world-class musicians or festive performers in the seasonal tent overlooking Milton Harbor—celebrating music, nature, and community under the open sky.
- Fonrose Wainwright Condict Award: An annual benefit honoring local leaders who embody the Wainwright mission of service, sustainability, and community building.
- Gingerbread Festival (December): A joyful, family-centered holiday event inviting guests of all ages to create gingerbread houses, support local charities, and experience the magic of the season inside the historic mansion.
- We also offer yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness Classes (year-round): Ongoing wellness offerings that reflect Wainwright’s roots in interfaith and spiritual practice, helping individuals cultivate balance and inner peace. And environmental and educational workshops (seasonal): programs in partnership with local conservation groups and schools that promote sustainability, healthy living, and stewardship of the natural world surrounding Milton Harbor.
Looking forward to 2026, what will be your top initiatives?
DeVane: Looking ahead to 2026, Wainwright House will focus on deepening its mission of connection, creativity, and stewardship through expanded cultural programming, environmental leadership, and community engagement. These initiatives will strengthen Wainwright as both a historical landmark and a living laboratory for wellness, the arts, and sustainability.
- Cultural Expansion and Community Engagement
- Wainwright House will grow its calendar of cultural events—from concerts and lectures to art exhibits and community collaborations—drawing new audiences while celebrating the arts as a pathway to understanding and joy.
- Environmental Stewardship and Green Innovation
- Building on its waterfront setting, Wainwright will enhance its role as a green laboratory, securing ecological grants to restore native landscapes, expand pollinator habitats, and pilot sustainability practices that can inspire other community organizations.
- Fundraising and Membership Growth
- A new signature fundraiser party will be launched to attract emerging audiences and foster new supporters, while expanded membership initiatives will strengthen the base of individuals committed to preserving and activating this historic home for future generations.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
DeVane: Wainwright House serves a diverse and intergenerational community from Rye, Westchester County, and the greater New York region—people seeking connection, learning, and renewal in a setting that nurtures both spirit and nature. Our members and guests include families, artists, educators, environmentalists, spiritual seekers, and neighbors who come together to share ideas, creativity, and wellbeing. Everyone is welcome, whether attending a single event, volunteering, or becoming a sustaining member. Community members can get involved by joining our classes and workshops, attending seasonal celebrations, or supporting our mission through membership, donations, or service.
Popular Programming Includes:
- Wellness & Yoga Classes: Weekly offerings for all levels that promote balance, mindfulness, and inner peace.
- Cultural & Educational Events: Lectures, concerts, and art programs celebrating creativity and global understanding.
- Environmental & Nature Programs: Workshops, native plantings, and partnerships that encourage sustainable living and stewardship of Milton Harbor.
- Seasonal Community Gatherings: Events like Strings on the Sound in summer and the Gingerbread Festival in December, uniting people of all ages in joy and celebration.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
DeVane: Yes.
Looking back across 2025, what were your organization’s top achievements?
DeVane: Looking back on 2025, Wainwright House experienced a year of renewal and growth—strengthening community ties, expanding cultural offerings, and advancing our mission of connection through spirit, nature, and the arts. Each achievement reflected our commitment to making this historic home a vibrant gathering place for learning, creativity, and wellbeing.
- A Year of Full Houses and Inspired Programs
- We welcomed record attendance for lectures, concerts, and workshops—demonstrating how in-person gatherings remain a powerful antidote to loneliness and a cornerstone of community well-being.
- Launch of the Gingerbread Festival
- Our inaugural Gingerbread Festival will bring together families, bakers, and local businesses in a joyful celebration of creativity and giving, while collecting donations for Feeding Westchester and spreading holiday cheer throughout the region.
- Strengthened Environmental Partnerships
- We deepened collaborations with local conservation groups and schools, expanding native plantings and environmental workshops as we move toward becoming a model “green laboratory” for sustainability and stewardship on Milton Harbor.
How can local residents support your organization?
DeVane: Local residents can support Wainwright House by becoming members, attending programs, or contributing financially to help sustain our historic home and its mission of community connection and lifelong learning. Volunteers are always welcome—to help with events, gardens, and educational programs, or to share their professional skills in service of our nonprofit work. Businesses and individuals can also sponsor events like Strings on the Sound or the Gingerbread Festival, supporting both community enrichment and local visibility. Every act of support—large or small—helps keep Wainwright House thriving as a place where people gather, grow, and give back.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
DeVane: Wainwright House has been sustained through the dedication of its trustees, whose hard work and vision keep this historic institution thriving year after year. Among them, former President Robert Manheimer stands out for his extraordinary leadership and continued commitment to the House—his efforts have helped guide Wainwright through times of challenge and renewal alike. We’re also deeply grateful to the volunteer group called “Keepers of the Labyrinth,” whose care and devotion ensure that this sacred outdoor space remains a place of peace and reflection for all who visit. Together, these devoted supporters—trustees, volunteers, and friends—embody the spirit of stewardship that allows Wainwright House to continue as a beacon of community and connection in Rye.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
DeVane: I have been a trustee for five years and president for one.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer
DeVane: This is a purely volunteer role, as it is for all our trustees.
Where did you grow up?
DeVane: Winter Park, Florida.
What principles guide you when you have to make a difficult decision?
DeVane: When faced with a difficult decision, I’m guided by integrity, compassion, and clarity of purpose—striving to choose what aligns with both my values and the greater good. I take time to listen, reflect, and consider long-term impact rather than short-term comfort. Above all, I aim to act in a way that fosters understanding, fairness, and connection.
Can you share a time when failure taught you more than success ever could?
DeVane: Yes—one of my greatest lessons came from a period of personal transition when something I deeply valued no longer aligned with the life I was living. I learned that staying true to my core values and trusting in community brings healing and clarity. From that experience grew a deep passion for connection and service, which ultimately are the values that drew me to Wainwright House—a place where shared purpose and belonging transform change into growth.
What excites you most about the future—for yourself or for the world?
DeVane: What excites me most about the future is the growing movement toward connection, consciousness, and care—a collective shift that values empathy as much as achievement. Personally, I’m inspired by opportunities to build communities that heal and uplift, where people feel seen and supported. For the world, I’m hopeful that we are learning to balance progress with purpose, and to remember that true success is measured in how we care for one another and the planet we share.
Where do you live and how many years have you lived there?
DeVane: I have lived in Rye for 14 years. I live in Milton Point.
Thanks Alexis!
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