The impact one nonprofit in town has on the community is quiet yet profound, especially around the holidays.
“Children’s Philanthropy, also known as Rye Gives, is the only local organization dedicated to supporting Rye families living at or below the poverty line with children attending Rye City schools,” said co-president Megan Pellarin.
Rye Gives is led by 30 volunteers who organize programs, events, and initiatives throughout the year. The group works in close alignment with social services across Rye schools to determine the number of families that need support during the holidays, and they always ensure discretion and anonymity.
During the winter season, group members typically donate gifts for around 22 families with elementary school-aged children, often providing cold-weather necessities like winter jackets and boots as well as games and sports equipment. The group also provides about 265 Rye middle and high school students with gift cards to Amazon or Target.
“It has been tremendous to see our little operation have such a big impact on our immediate community,” said co-president Molly Pacala. “We are often met with surprise when our neighbors learn that 85 families live below the poverty line right here in Rye. As soon as we explain this, they are quick to lend a hand or make a donation.”
Pellarin said that the organization frequently receives handwritten letters of gratitude from families that have received support.
“It is not lost on us how much our work means to these families and how much we wish we could do even more,” Pellarin said.
Founded in 1941 as a junior branch of the Woman’s Club of Rye for younger members interested in community service, Rye Gives focuses on advocating for the town’s youngest residents. Money collected during the year is distributed to qualifying institutions, agencies, and groups that support scholarships and cultural, educational, emotional, or recreational enrichment.
This year, the number of families requesting seasonal assistance has increased by 10, following an upward trend since 2020. Winter months can be especially challenging for many, as federally funded school meals are unavailable during school closures. During the Thanksgiving and winter and spring breaks, Rye Gives provides grocery gift cards. Thanks to donations from the Rye community, the group raised a record $8,600 through this year’s Thanksgiving & Giving Season campaign. As a result, they were able to increase the value of each gift card from $75 to $100.
“A friend once thanked me for the anonymous gift cards her daughters received at Christmas knowing I worked with the organization,” said former President Christine Groves. “I had no idea she was a recipient. It was a beautiful reminder that the support we give truly reaches our own friends and neighbors – quietly, respectfully, and exactly when they need it.”
Fundraising events, including the group’s third annual Mahjong tournament in March, help sustain programs that allow Rye’s children to thrive. These efforts support scholarship grants for Rye Recreation summer camps and scholarships for Rye High School seniors who go above and beyond through volunteer work with children in the Rye community.
“These are our kids’ classmates,” Pellarin said. “We want to do everything we can to provide programs that support the emotional and recreational well-being of Rye City children throughout the year, especially during the holidays.”
