The Hudson River Park Friends Development Committee is a group of influential and energetic community members whose work is critical to the success of HRPK Friends’ fundraising strategy. Made up of both Board Members and Non-Board Members, the Development Committee plays a key role in connecting HRPK Friends with new audiences.
Development Committee members are important partners in helping sustain Hudson River Park on a daily basis, providing or securing significant funding to benefit the Park. This growing and evolving committee also spearheads several community-building events and activations that raises funds and awareness, keeping the Park beautiful, safe, green, clean and growing.
Engage Your Unique Skills and Interests
The Development Committee is made up of a series of Specialty Fundraising Groups (“SFGs”), who focus on specific fundraising projects and engaging new donor audiences based on areas of particular interests. This means that as a Committee member, you can harness your unique skillsets and experience and focus your energy on what you’re passionate about in the Park. You can learn more about existing SFGs below, but we’re always growing and interested in hearing your ideas.
Interested in learning more? Please reach out to Toby Pearce, Chief Development Officer at tpearce@hudsonriverpark.org.
Specialty Fundraising Groups
Business CouncilProgram Track
The Hudson River Park Friends Business Council connects industries and businesses located along the West Side of Manhattan with engaged local audiences through activations and offerings, creating expanded economic growth and strengthening our community.
Four-Legged FriendsDonor Track
The Hudson River Park Four-Legged Friends program enables dogs, their dog people, and businesses to build a “pawsitive” community and ensure our dog-friendly Park stays clean, green and growing (with tails wagging). Our Four-Legged Friends SFG leads this charge, engaging a community of dog-loving Park supporters.
Arts & CultureDonor Track
Hudson River Park is home to a wonderful array of free cultural programs every year, as well as public art installations all across our four+ miles. Our Arts & Culture SFG works to support these offerings, further establish HRPK as a NYC cultural destination and build a community of Park supporters engaged in the arts.
Sports & AthleticsDonor Track
Hudson River Park features more ways to get active on land and water than any other park in NYC. Our Sports & Athletics SFG creates opportunities for the Park’s active athletic community to get involved.
Environmental SustainabilityDonor Track
Hudson River Park is not only a tree canopy and green space capable of absorbing rainwater and runoff. It’s also a 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary and an innovator in urban sustainability practices. These efforts have grown to include two Park-wide initiatives focused on composting and plastics reduction. Our Environmental Sustainability SFG creates opportunities for the Park community to enhance sustainability efforts and ecological abundance.
Member Benefits
- Make a real difference
- Develop your own leadership skills by learning from your peers
- Establish and grow your network
- Boost Your public profile
- Participate in select Park volunteer, cultivation, and fundraising events
Development Committee Members
| Stefania Bethlen, Development Committee Co-Chair Head of Corporate Access, Peel Hunt LLP Greg Wasserman, Development Committee Co-Chair† Head of Climate Innovation Fund, Wellington Management Cathy Blaney† Partnership Development, Bloomberg Philanthropies Nicholas Casal Founder & Managing Partner, NFC LLC Emily Dougherty Joseph Frederick III VP Product Manager Communications, J.P. Morgan Chase Larry Keigwin† Artistic Director, KEIGWIN + COMPANY Neil V. King III Vice Chairman, CBRE’s Advisory and Transaction Services Group (NY) Jean Kogut Finance Consultant Scott M. Lawin† CEO/COO, Candy Digital Vice Chair, Hudson River Park Friends Board of Directors Carolina March Revenue Operations Analyst, Movable Ink Sean March Finance Strategist, Datarails | Vinay Menda Founder and Managing Partner, Reshape Krista Nickols Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, SERHANT. David Portnoy Principal, American Securities Aima Raza Founder, Peace Project Inc. Brian Rowland Chief Financial Officer, Specialty Lending Company LLC Justin Sadrian† Partner and Managing Director, Warburg Pincus, LLC Vice Chair, Hudson River Park Friends Board of Directors Jarred Snyder Co-Founder, Fanthropic Gregory Starikovsky Senior Analyst, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. Martha Stewart† Founder, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Lenore Vassil Global Head of Enterprise Technology, WeWork Daniel J. Williams† Managing Director, Citi Private Bank Madelyn Wils Daphne Wood Director of Events, National Football League |
† Member of Hudson River Park Friends Board of Directors