Join us for our biggest (virtual) fundraiser of the year on Sunday, May 16 to celebrate the Ryesilience of our community. Featuring Rye's Ian Rapoport, and honoring community members Molly Howson, Erika Lee and Jared Small. Read more below!
Can't attend? You can still show your support by donating here to RYC programs.
A sportswriter, news reporter, and television analyst who primarily covers the National Football League, Ian will talk about adversity and resilience in his career. A native of Westchester County, Ian attended the Hackley School and Columbia University. He lives in Rye with his wife, Leah, and their two children.
You can show your support of the Rye Youth Council mission and the Ryesilience of community members Molly Howson, Erika Lee, and Jared Small through a meaningful and 100% tax deductible donation in their name.
During the early stages of the pandemic, Molly started a campaign known as FundTheFront, to support doctors, nurses, hospital workers, and first responders in Westchester County, New York City, and Connecticut. What started out as an effort to donate hand sanitizer quickly grew to an effort through which Molly raised $66,000 in six weeks from over 600 families. Her living room became a supply room for packaging over 15,000 pieces of PPE, including masks, face shields, goggles, gloves, gowns, hazmat suits and shoe covers. Each package included thank you cards from local children.
When life as we all knew it grew to a standstill and our first responders were working night and day, Erika decided to feed our heroes! After a single post on Rye Moms, donations flooded in and lunch and dinners were served to hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, police, fire departments, and even the Rye Post Office! What she thought would be a one-time donation grew to feeding our heroes for eight weeks during the spring of 2020. Her initiative raised $34,000 that benefited both our local restaurants and our heroes and demonstrates her commitment to the Rye community.
Through Jared Small’s involvement with Rye Youth Soccer (which serves children from pre K-11th grade), the Rye High School varsity boys soccer team, and his business Peak Performance, he has managed to create programming and make commonplace activities happen in a safe format for youth during a difficult time. Jared is very focused on giving back to the community, both personally and professionally. In addition to coaching, he has been active in multiple projects aimed at helping underserved youth achieve in school and sports, including serving as a head of soccer for the New York chapter of Playsmart Academy.
Rye Youth Council supports the social, emotional and mental health of young people, and does so in collaboration with schools, parents and local organizations. Rye City School District Superintendent Dr. Eric Byrne talks about the importance of social emotional learning and the RYC.
Aiden participates in the RYC Adopt a Grandfriend program, which connects teens to local senior citizens in our community. He talks here about being a Pen Pal to an isolated senior citizen, and the impact it has had on both of them during the pandemic. Aiden also was a member of the RYC Make a Grandfriend program for middle school aged youth.
High schooler and Hoops Player Amanda talks about the impact Rye Youth Council Mindfulness sessions have had on her ability to focus both on the court and in the classroom.
Hear Dorothy describe her positive experience connecting through KidCast to local teens and peers during the pandemic.
High schooler Ella talks about the impact Rye Youth Council Employment Service has had on her job experience.
City of Rye Police Benevolent Association (PBA) is a strong supporter of the Rye Youth Council (RYC) and youth in our community. RYC is grateful for the PBA's commitment to young people and families in our community. Hear how Rye PBA President Gabe Caputo feels about the RYC.
1st grader Meg talks about what she loves about participating in the RYC KidCAST program, a virtual supervised playdate for kids, by teens.
Donating is easy and is 100% tax deductible! Simply text GIVE to 914-217-1897 and support our mission today!
We are sorry you cannot attend to hear our stories of community and Ryesilience. You can still show your support through a donation to RYC programs.