RYC Wins New Westchester Grant
Rye Youth Council (RYC) has been named the first and largest grant recipient by Pitch Your Peers (PYP) Westchester, an organization dedicated to empowering women philanthropists to fund impactful community initiatives.
The recognition underscores RYC’s commitment to addressing the youth mental health crisis and its programs across the Sound Shore community. The grant is for $19,000.
“We are thrilled to provide RYC with this inaugural grant that will help expand its critical mental health services, including the RYC Restore program, which has already provided over 1,450 therapy sessions and weekly counseling for more than 160 youth — 30 percent of whom received services at no cost,” says PYP Westchester Co-founders Jennie Pastor and Autumn Terrill.
Meals on Main Street was granted $9,500 and Trails Without Limits, $3,500.
The funding will enable RYC to increase its ability to serve more young people through one-on-one counseling, launch new group counseling services, and expand its highly successful Peer-to-Peer Depression Awareness & Suicide Prevention Program (P2P), a partnership with the University of Michigan.
“This grant from Pitch Your Peers Westchester allows us to continue breaking down barriers to mental health care, empower young people with critical social-emotional skills, and extend our reach to local communities,” said RYC Executive Director Lisa Dominici. “Together, we are building a future where every child has the support and resources they need to thrive.”
RYC’s comprehensive approach to youth well-being—spanning student leadership programs, mental health education for parents and educators, and low- to no-cost therapy for ages 5 to 22—has become a model of community collaboration.
With this grant, RYC plans to expand its graduate intern program of student clinicians, offer no-cost wellness and counseling programs to partners like the Carver Center and PlaySmart Academy, and continue fostering resilience in students through innovative initiatives like the Student-Athlete Mental Health Program and Teen Mental Health First Aid.
Neuberger Awarded $50,000 for Green Upgrades
The Neuberger Museum of Art has been awarded $50,000 as part of a national grant to promote environmental improvements in the visual arts.
The funds come from the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative. The Neuberger was one of 74 organizations selected from across the country.
The Neuberger will use the grant to support the LED Conversion Galleries Project, which will upgrade the Museum’s gallery lighting system from outdated halogen bulbs to high-efficiency LED fixtures. The project is projected to lower annual greenhouse gas emissions by 13 percent, reduce energy consumption by nearly 100,000 kWh, and decrease annual energy costs by more than $17,000.
“We’re grateful to the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation for supporting our efforts to show how smarter lighting can enhance both the presentation and preservation of artworks while reducing the Museum’s environmental impact,” said Neuberger Museum of Art Director Tracy Fitzpatrick. “This grant marks an important step in our plan to convert every gallery to energy-efficient LED lighting.”
Photo Exhibit From a Designer’s Perspective
The work of Mitch Achiron, a designer and photographer who has logged more than 50 years behind both film and digital cameras, is to be on display at Serendipity Labs through Sunday, August 24. The exhibit, which features roughly 20 of Achiron’s images, kicked off with a reception on Thursday, June 26.
Achiron attended the Pratt Institute, where he graduated with a BFA in communications, hoping to design record album covers. During his time as a student, he explored New York City neighborhoods with a 35 MM camera hanging from his neck. After graduation, he established his career at several Madison Avenue advertising agencies, where he continued to shoot photos, starting with film and later transitioning to digital — but always using his “design filter” to give his work a unique perspective
In recent years, Achiron’s work has been included in several group shows. He is currently a member of The Ground Glass in Rye, an independent association dedicated to promoting the practice and appreciation of fine photography in Westchester and Fairfield counties. His exhibition at Serendipity Labs is Achiron’s first solo show.
Attendees who visit Achiron’s exhibit will be able to buy his small prints for $75 each. Fifteen percent of all sales will be donated to Feeding Westchester.
Gallery B Exhibit Celebrates Its Roots
The Rye Arts Center’s Gallery B steps into its own story with its free exhibition, “Summer Retrospective: The Artwork of Gallery B Artists,” which is to run through September 29. From longtime favorites to emerging voices, the exhibition features artists who have previously shown work in the space.
“Summer Retrospective stands as a touchstone of the gallery’s monumental growth, reflecting its commitment to the arts, the artists it supports, and the community it serves,” said Sarah Mackay, gallery manager and exhibitions curator. “The exhibition pays homage to artists who have cultivated the intrigue and identity of Gallery B, while offering a nod toward future exhibitions and continued creative dialogue.”
Curated by artist, educator, and 2025 Visionary Artist Award recipient Jill Parry, Summer Retrospective invites audiences to reflect on the many artists who have helped define the gallery’s evolving identity. Many return with new work and fresh perspectives, each contributing to a living archive of Gallery B’s past, present, and future.
“Gallery B has journeyed far since its early days, and these artists have steered the course,” said Lauren Emerson, marketing and digital experience director at The Rye Arts Center. “They’ve guided our vision, invited new voices, and left quiet echoes wherever their work once stood.”
Since its inception in 2022, Gallery B has offered emerging regional artists the opportunity to present solo exhibitions and expand their practice. The gallery’s mission is rooted in fostering artistic development, amplifying local voices, and cultivating a space where experimentation and expression can thrive. Since its founding, it has presented solo exhibitions for 20 artists.
Rye Veterans Participate in Honor Flight
Seven Rye veterans flew from Westchester County Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport recently through Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization that aims to honor and celebrate veterans by bringing them to Washington D.C. to visit the various memorials, at no cost to them.
This was Mission 36 for the Hudson Valley Honor Flight. While Rye residents have flown on earlier “mission” flights, this was the first time seven Rye veterans flew together. The 65 veterans on Mission 36 were from the tri-state area, serving in various wars, from World War II to Vietnam. Some veterans had their children, grandchildren or other family members serve as their guardian during the trip, while others used guardians provided through the Hudson Valley Honor Flight. The Rye veterans on Mission 36 were Frank Berté, U.S. Army; Jerry McGuire, U.S. Air Force; Harold “Sonny” Slater, U.S. Navy; James “Jimmy” Dianni, U.S. Army; Arcadio Ocasio, U.S. Marine Corps; Francis “Jay” Riordan, U.S. Army; and Thomas “Tom” Battista, U.S. Air Force.
The day started at ShopRite in Elmsford at 5:30 a.m. where veterans and their guardians boarded coach buses to Westchester County Airport, where a large crowd then welcomed them at the send-off reception, including Rye’s George Latimer of the House of Representatives and Catherine Parker of the County Legislature, County Executive Ken Jenkins, and others. While in the D.C., the veterans and their guardians visited the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the National Mall. Most of the Rye veterans had never been to the memorials.
On the flight back, veterans participated in “Mail Call,” an Honor Flight tradition where they receive cards and letters from fellow Americans expressing their gratitude. Midland School Teacher Katharine Sweeney’s third grade class provided some of the letters for Mission 36. Back at the Westchester County Airport, veterans were greeted by a large and loud reception for one final “welcome home.”
