Business Wire
05-14-04
Photo: Steve Sands
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 14, 2004–The New York Restoration Project is conducting a national search for an Executive Director, announced Ben Needell, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Executive search firms are currently being interviewed, and the search is expected to begin within the next two weeks.
“Joseph Pupello, President of NYRP since its inception ten years ago, is leaving the organization,” said Needell. Under the leadership of Pupello, NYRP has raised over $18 million for the restoration and development of neglected parks, community gardens, and open spaces in underserved communities throughout New York City, including 375 acres of historic Fort Tryon, Fort Washington, and Highbridge Parks. The organization also helped save scores of community gardens throughout New York City and established the New York Garden Trust to maintain and preserve 50 gardens in perpetuity.
Amy Gavaris, Executive Vice-President of NYRP, will serve as acting head of the organization and will spearhead the arrival of the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse, the first boathouse on the Harlem River in over a century, and the Annual Spring Picnic in Swindler Cove Park.
Bette Midler founded the New York Restoration Project in 1995. Its mission is to reclaim, restore, and develop open space in New York City. NYRP maintains 375 acres of parkland and open space, has picked up 75,000 tons of garbage, planted thousands of shrubs, trees, bulbs, and plants, organized educational programming for over 1,000 children each year, supported 51 community gardens, and funded 80,000 hours of volunteer and staff labor for the benefit of a more beautiful, livable New York.
