$25K Donation Save Westchester Festivals

A series of spring and summer cultural festivals that have become a tradition at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla that were cut from Westchester County's budget were rescued Monday with a $25,000 donation to support the program.

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said the donation from the Friends of Westchester County Parks is an example of the kind of public-private partnership that is needed to support community and cultural programs that government can no longer afford to fund on its own.

"Friends of Westchester County Parks is proud to step forward and ensure that these important ethnic celebration festivals remain part of Westchester County's annual calendar of events," said Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, chair of the Friends of Westchester Parks board of trustees.

The impact of the donation is immediate. The funding makes it possible for the 2013 series of cultural festivals to kick off on Saturday with the 14th Asian Heritage Festival.

Rose Tan Kaung of White Plains, immediate past-president of the Westchester and Hudson Valley Chapter of OCA, an organization for the advancement of Asian-Pacific Americans, said she is glad her organization will be able to share its culture and heritage through the festival on Saturday.

Astorino said the donation will cover the costs of contractors needed to provide equipment and operate the festival. He said Westchester County is providing support for the festival through police and parks staff.

"This public-private partnership will be a role model going forward," said Astorino as he and leaders of Friends of Westchester County Parks and local cultural organizations gathered this morning at Kensico Dam Plaza to celebrate the $25,000. "This partnership helps us explain to the public that the world is changing."

The cultural heritage festival series is the second major local event that has been rescued with the fundraising help of the Friends of Westchester County Parks. The organization donated $20,000 this year and last year so the county could continue Bicycle Sunday on the Bronx River Parkway. Bracken-Thompson said the bicycle program was also assisted by a $20,000 matching donation from Consolidated Edison.

"The various heritage festivals are among our most popular events and are anticipated summertime fare in Westchester," Astorino said. "Due to our tight budgets, the programs were in danager of being discontinued."

In addition to this weekend's Asian Heritage Festival, the series includes:

- Albanian festival, June 2, noon to 7 p.m. at Kensico Dam Plaza

- African-American festival, June 23, noon to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza

- Italian festival, July 7, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza

- Irish festival, July 14, noon to 7 p.m., Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale

- Polish festival, July 14, noon to 6 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza

- Hispanic festival, July 21, noon to 6 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza

- Jewish festival, July 28, noon to 6 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza

- Indian festival, Aug. 4, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza

The festivals are sponsored by the Friends of Westchester County Parks and Westchester County Parks.

Bracken-Thompson said her group works throughout the year to support and bring attention to Westchester County's park system, highlighting the recreational, social, cultural and financial impacts the parks have on the county. She said her group is continuing to lobby county officials and lawmakers to maintain funding for parks and park programs.