Ridgelines #217

Mohonk Preserve Welcomes New Director of Development

Benjamin Krevolin, recently appointed Director of Development at Mohonk Preserve, is a native of Staatsburg and Poughkeepsie. He is very pleased to be back in the Hudson Valley after serving as the Chief Advancement Officer for the Bard Graduate Center, a unit of Bard College based in New York City. This is not Krevolin’s first professional role in the region having worked in the Office of Alumnae/i Affairs and Development at his alma mater, Vassar College, leading Arts Mid-Hudson, and raising funds for New York Stage and Film.

Prior to being on the administrative side of nonprofit organizations, Krevolin was a freelance theater artist working on the premieres of plays and musicals in New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Stockholm, Sweden. He has been published in Modern Magazine, the Huffington Post and the Poughkeepsie Journal, among other media.

As Director of Development, Krevolin leads a multi-faceted fundraising program and serves as a key member of the Preserve’s senior Leadership Team. The development department’s work includes engaging generous donors of all levels through appeals and membership programs like the Preserver Circle, planned giving opportunities, volunteering, and special events like Rock The Ridge and the Annual Benefit Auction. Krevolin’s accomplished team also attracts support for the Preserve through grants and sponsorships from corporations, foundations and government agencies.

“It is so nice to be back home in the Hudson Valley,” Krevolin said. “That distinct profile of the Shawangunks against the sky was a constant feature of growing up here. Now, every morning on my way to the office, my breath is taken away at the awesome view of those majestic cliffs. It is an honor to be working in such a caring community with the great team here at Mohonk Preserve, saving these natural lands for generations to come.”

Be sure to say hello to Benjamin next time you are at the Preserve Visitor Center.

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A Legacy of Love

One of the most meaningful ways our donors choose to support Mohonk Preserve is through memorial gifts, acknowledging the importance of their loved ones and their relationship with the Preserve. Following is a moving and heartwarming story from longtime Preserve Member Larry Randall.

Growing up on Long Island, my family had a dairy farm. Pasture, fields, woods – it was a boy’s paradise. That’s where I began to learn the importance of the land, as a place and as a source of inspiration and peace. As a 15-year-old, I discovered real mountains in New Mexico. Starting in college, I lived in cities, in Oregon and then in “the city,” NYC, where I met and married my lovely wife, Marla.

On our belated honeymoon in 1967, we drove across the country, stopping in the Tetons, where we took a one-day introduction to climbing, and met an unassuming fellow named Chouinard, who described some exciting adventures in the mountains, and who we later learned was a famous climber. Upon our return home, we wanted to continue our interest in climbing and heard about a place called, “the Gunks,” only an hour away in New Paltz.

Thus began our lifelong love affair with the Shawangunk Mountains, and especially Mohonk Preserve. At first, we were focused on the cliffs and the carriage roads and trails that provided access. Gradually, we discovered there was a lot more to this place. Many more carriage roads and trails, and a unique landscape full of unusual flora and fauna, all kept as natural and yet accessible as possible by the Preserve. By the time our daughter was born in 1970, we had moved to New Paltz. With the ridge and Skytop so visible, her middle name was Sky, which became the name she used as an adult. She joined Marla and me in exploring the Preserve. Blueberry picking was a favorite activity for all of us.

We came to understand how much time and money it takes to keep the Preserve viable. In a different world, perhaps we could just let nature do what it will, but that would mean putting a fence around the whole place and walking away; no hiking, climbing, biking – no recreation, no research, no education. Even then, the outside world – us – would have an impact. We understand the need for staff, equipment, and infrastructure to maintain and protect the Preserve, and to allow us to enjoy this special place, all of which requires money, a lot of money. So, over the years we donated as much as possible.

Two years ago, my beloved wife Marla died, and then last year Sky died. Wanting to memorialize the two most important women in my life and recognize how important the Preserve has been to all of us, I made a sizeable donation through a gift of appreciated stock.

The Preserve is deeply grateful to Larry for his generosity and for sharing his story with the Mohonk Preserve community. For information on the many ways to support the Preserve, please contact development@mohonkpreserve.org.

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Plant Your Legacy This Spring

Spring is a season of renewal with the promise of future bounty. Including Mohonk Preserve in your estate plans is a meaningful way to plant intentions now that will flourish in the future, supporting the Preserve’s mission to protect the Shawangunk Ridge and inspire the next generation to care for, enjoy and explore the natural world. Please consider supporting Mohonk Preserve with a bequest.

If you are new to the process, Mohonk Preserve has partnered with FreeWill to provide an accessible resource to guide you through creating a will. It’s a straightforward process that can take as little as 20 minutes to complete. For more information, visit www.freewill.com/mohonkpreserve.

If you are further along with your estate planning journey and would like to learn more about supporting Mohonk Preserve through your will or by making the Preserve a beneficiary of a retirement/investment account or an insurance policy, please contact Director of Development Benjamin Krevolin at bkrevolin@mohonkpreserve.org or 845-255-0919, ext. 1240 to discuss the many ways to ensure your wishes are honored, your family members are cared for and the causes you support are acknowledged.

Plant roots today toward a lasting gift to the people and places you love! Thank you!

P.S. If the Preserve is already in your plans, please let us know, so we can express our gratitude.