Westchester Land Trust Kicks-Off 2015 Benefit "It's Our Nature"

The Board of Directors of the Westchester Land Trust (WLT) and the 2015 Benefit Committee recently announced that this year’s benefit, “It’s Our Nature,” will be held on Saturday, June 13th at Old Salem Farm in North Salem – back for a second year by popular demand. The event will welcome more than 350 attendees and take place in a double-decker tent on Old Salem Farm with spectacular views of this premier equestrian facility which hosted the 2014 American Gold Cup.

Guests can expect a seasonally-inspired dinner as well as dancing, silent and live auction, and much more. In addition, WLT will honor long-time Board Member, Benjamin F. Needell for his long-standing commitment to land conservation in our community. Ben has been a Senior Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City for almost 35 years. He has been recognized as an outstanding attorney and named one of The Best Lawyers in America for real estate law as well as Best Lawyers’ “2013 New York City Real Estate Lawyer of the Year.”

In addition to being a member of the Westchester Land Trust Board of Directors since 2001, Ben is the Chairman of the New York Restoration Project, a past Chairman of the Stratton Mountain School, and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. He and his wife, Kathy, live in Pound Ridge.

Jonathan Wiesner, Chairman of the WLT’s Board of Directors said that, “We are proud to honor Ben for his many years of dedication to the Westchester Land Trust and his ongoing commitment to permanently protect environmentally valuable land throughout the region.”

The committee planning WLT’s 2015 Benefit “It’s Our Nature” includes Amy & Keith Ferguson, Susan & James Henry, Jackie & Peter Kamenstein, Vivien G. Malloy, Kathy Needell, Mary Ann Petrilena, and Pamela & David Small. The Benefit is sponsored in part by Old Salem Farm (Presenting Sponsor), Serendipity magazine (Media Sponsor), The Foley Group (Print Sponsor), and Sarah Fey Designs (Design Sponsor). Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by calling Tom Gabriel, Development Director, at (914)234-6992 ext 18.

Tickets to this event start at $350 per person, and can be purchased through the WLT’s website westchesterlandtrust.org or by calling Grace Buck, Assistant Development Director, at (914)234-6992 ext 23.

All of the funds raised through the WLT 2015 Benefit will enable the organization to protect environmentally-important open space in the community we all share.

Founded in 1988, WLT works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity, and to protect and enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam County. The WLT’s conservation efforts impact the long term health of these communities through protection of watershed areas, air quality, and food supply. In total, the WLT has preserved almost 8,000 acres of open space including more than 650 acres of preserves owned by the organization.

Photos Included:

#1 The double-decker tent at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY

#2 Benjamin F. Needell