SILVER ANNIVERSARY 25 YEARS OF THE VON DER HEYDEN SCHOLARSHIP
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mong the highlights of this year’s Heroes of New York Gala (formerly the Dodge Dinner) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art was the opportunity to celebrate Karl and Mary Ellen von der Heyden on the 25th anniversary of their YMCA college scholarship. Since the first awards were given in 1998, more than 40 students have benefited from the von der Heyden Scholarship Fund and have gone on to careers in banking, medicine, education and social services. The Y welcomed back twelve alumni who attended the gala to toast the von der Heydens for their steadfast commitment to making college a reality for YMCA youth, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Currently each recipient receives a four-year scholarship that helps with tuition and other college expenses. The toast to Karl and Mary Ellen was capped off with awarding this year’s scholarships to Ryan La Barrie, attending Vanderbilt University, and Kimberly Navarrete, attending CUNY Hunter College.•
(clockwise from top) Karl and Mary von der Heyden celebrate their commitment to education over 25 years; YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger gives remarks at Heroes of New York Gala; Ryan La Barrie and Kimberly Navarette, former Rowe Scholars and Teens Take the City leaders, receiving scholarship awards for their hard work; The Met lit for the Y.
2023 ISSUE 3
