The Wainwright House 2023 benefit is this Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. The annual event will be honoring six individuals in the Rye community: Lucy Berkoff (Spring for Rye), Jen Crozier (Spring for Rye), Carlos Jimenez (community artistic partner), Eddy Kehoe (Wainwright student historian), Dr. Bill Meyer (assistant principal of Rye High School) and Annabel Monaghan (local Rye author).
Funds raised will go toward the Wainwright general fund. In addition, funds are being earmarked to refurbish Fonrose House, the prior home of Fonrose Wainwright located on the property. It needs updating so it can continue to be used for Wainwright retreats and for overnight member and guest accommodations. You can still purchase tickets.
The six being honored:
Lucy Berkoff:
Lucy Berkoff is the mom of four and a lifelong gardener. In Rye since 2010 and lucky to have been deeply influenced by a number of smart Rye women regarding the power of native plants, and native trees in particular, she realized she had the skill set to quickly address a substantial and fundamental gap in the incredible partners in Jennifer Crozier and the whole Rye City School District. She is profoundly grateful to have been supported in this endeavor by many wonderful Rye families she has had the privilege to garden with and for at Midland School, Rye Town Park, the Rye Garden Club, and home gardens all over Rye.
Jen Crozier:
Jen Crozier is a Rye mom, consultant, and community member. She has worked at the intersection of technology and social impact for over twenty years – most recently as President of the IBM Foundation. She currently serves on the board of Directors of the American Cancer Society and volunteers for a variety of local programs. Jen loves running, traveling, thinking about the future of education, and cheering for her husband and kids in their various endeavors.
Carlos Jimenez:
Carlos Jimenez is a flute player and vocalist, as well as composer and bandleader of jazz, Latin jazz and salsa. Born in Yonkers, New York, his family moved to Villaba, Puerto Rico when he was six years old. From a young age, Carlos had an aptitude for percussion and played timbales, bongos and congas. Carlos soon changed his instrument to flute, feeling inspired listening to the music of Cuban Percussionist, Mongo Santamaria. He began studying classical flute at the Music Conservatory of Westchester before expanding his repertoire to include jazz. To date, Carlos has recorded nine albums of his own compositions as well as his own arrangements of jazz and Latin music classics.
Eddy Kehoe:
Eddy Kehoe is a sophomore at Rye High School. He is a soccer and basketball player. Eddy cares deeply about Wainwright House and its history rooted in WW1 and the United Nations. He has conducted historical research to help preserve Wainwright’s past. With the support of the Rye City School District, he has organized youth educational visits as he believes young generations can better understand the lessons of the ‘Great War’ through the life and work of Colonel Wainwright.
Dr. Bill Meyer:
Bill Meyer is a school administrator at Rye High School. He holds a PhD from NYU in Educational Leadership and is the author of five books, including three about meditation. He has an upcoming chapter on mindfulness within an international context coming out this fall as part of The Bloomsbury Handbook of Schools and Religion. He enjoys hiking, swimming, and traveling near and far with his wife and two kids.
Annabel Monaghan:
Annabel Monaghan is the author of LibraryReads pick Same Time Next Summer and Indie Next and LibraryReads pick Nora Goes Off Script, as well as two young adult novels and Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big?, a selection of laugh-out-loud columns that appeared in the Huffington Post, the Week, and the Rye Record. She lives in Rye, New York, with her family.
