Garden Party Honorees Have Deep Roots in the Hudson Valley
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Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley
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Garden Party Honorees Have Deep Roots in the Hudson Valley
Pawling, NY. Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) hosted its annual Garden Party event on Sunday, September 15, 2024. More than $160,000 was raised to support its Community Grants Program that distributes grant funds to nonprofits in Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster counties. Against a backdrop of clear blue skies and the rolling green fields of Kirby Hill Farm, hundreds gathered to celebrate the remarkable contributions of this year’s honorees: Tim and Alicia Dean for Dutchess County, Andrea Reynolds for Ulster County, and Rick and Nancy* Brownell for Putnam County. In recognition of their service, CFHV pledged to make a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit of each honoree’s choosing.
In welcoming the audience, current CFHV President and CEO, Laura Washington emphasized the power of collective giving: “When you give through the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, you join a powerful network of like-minded individuals who are making a positive difference in our community. Giving and working together, we make more possible. More arts & culture, more food security, more scholarships, more after-school programming, more environmental sustainability, more vital community services.”
Honoring Lifelong Dedication
Tim and Alicia Dean have both had distinguished careers–Tim, as CEO of Marshall & Sterling, and Alicia, as a quality assurance chemist at IBM. Their commitment to the community is evident with their extensive board service and support of numerous causes. Tim’s tenure as CFHV Board Chair led to the hiring of Andrea Reynolds as President & CEO in 2005. Together, they established a donor advised fund through CFHV and Alicia shared, “We deliberately named the fund the Dean Family Fund so our kids could participate. They promptly raided their piggy banks to contribute!” Their $1,000 donation will go to the Dean Family Fund which supports the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie whose mission is to ensure every child and family has access to the resources they need to thrive.
Andrea L. Reynolds, now President and CEO of the Dyson Foundation, was recognized for visionary leadership during her tenure as President and CEO of CFHV. Under her guidance, the foundation expanded from the Dutchess Community Foundation to include Putnam and Ulster counties becoming the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley. Under her leadership, the organization’s assets increased from $22 million to $55 million and $3.5 million in grants were distributed. In accepting her award, Andrea remarked, “Today is about celebrating all we’ve done and what we will do together in the future.” She directed her $1,000 donation to the Trustees Endowment Fund which is an unrestricted fund that supports the Foundation’s grantmaking programs and expenses.
Rick and Nancy* Brownell were celebrated for their decades of professional and volunteer dedication. Nancy, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year, left a lasting legacy through her leadership at CFHV, including two years as Board Chair and many years as Vice President of Putnam. Nancy’s contributions were profound. She played an instrumental role in growing CFHV’s assets to more than $100 million. Rick shared, “In honor of Nancy’s love of flowers, we will be directing our $1,000 donation to the Garden Club of Orange + Dutchess Counties.”
The Power of Community Support
In addition to previous honorees and other supporters of CFHV, the Garden Party was attended by representatives from many nonprofits that have benefited by their association with the organization. Catherine Forbes, Senior Director of Advancement at Cary Institute described a recent collaboration with Art Effect and Scenic Hudson to develop an ecological tour of Poughkeepsie. Shane Stuart, Director of Development at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, expressed gratitude for the regular contributions made by DAF donors. Johanna Carlin, Planned Parenthood summed up the importance of CFHV’s contributions to the community by saying, “They show up for everybody.”
As the day drew to a close, Garden Party Committee Chair, Lisa Wilson’s words captured the essence of the event, “The Garden Party is all about inspiration.” The community came together not only to celebrate the honorees but also to renew their commitment to making a difference in the Hudson Valley, ensuring a brighter future for all.
*Nancy Brownell was honored posthumously.
About Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) is a trusted partner in philanthropy, empowering individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to establish charitable funds that address the needs of Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster counties. CFHV offers expert planning that aligns charitable giving with both personal priorities and community needs. As a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), contributions to CFHV are tax-deductible within IRS guidelines. More at communityfoundationshv.org.
