Galloping Forward: A Hudson River Museum Gala (2026)

Thank you for joining us for Galloping Forward: A Hudson River Museum Gala, a festive evening celebrating our inspiring honorees and advancing the HRM’s powerful impact. The evening program, which took place in the lobby, courtyard, galleries, and Hudson Room, included cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner catered by Sterling Affair; live entertainment by KAIRA & The Bandemics; messages from our honorees and special guests; and silent, live, and cause auctions.

By purchasing a table or ticket, you provided vital support for the Hudson River Museum’s 2026 exhibition series, including Robert Peterson: Journeys; Black Cowboys in America: Photographs by Ron Tarver; and Ever Becoming: Our Stories, Our America, part of the HRM’s America250 celebration. Your commitment also allows us to provide top-quality education, innovative programming, and access for more than 80,000 visitors of all ages from more than 40 states, including thousands of K-12 schoolchildren, to experience all our community and region have to offer.

View photos of the event here.

View the digital journal here.

Honorees

Robert Peterson
Featured Artist
Learn more about Robert Peterson.

Samantha Merton and Brett Humphreys
Community Champions
Learn more about Samantha Merton and Brett Humphreys.

Laura Vookles
Chair, HRM Curatorial Department
Isidore Konti Medal of Distinction
Recognizing 40 Years of Dedicated Service
Learn more about Laura Vookles.

Sponsors

Platinum
Samantha Merton and Brett Humphreys

Gold
Tom and Terry D’Auria
Karbone, Inc.
Kawasaki Rail Car
Rosina Rubin and Jeff Rose
Lorraine W. Shanley and David H. Snyder
Sound Associates, Inc.
Yonkers IDA

Silver
The Bernacchia Family
David Brent
Cboe Global Markets
Brian Dore
Ginsburg Development Companies
The Ann and Arthur Grey Foundation
The Mulford Corporation/MHACY
Dr. John and Adele Vookles

Bronze
Mark Bergamini and Christopher Oates
Debra A. Blair and Richard deBart
Kate Buggeln and Steve Kulovits
Elise Kessler and Mark Mottel
Robin Liebowitz and Philippe Sandmeier
Montefiore Medical Center
Christina O’Neill
Jeffrey and Robin Roude

Patron
Maria and Steven Abbattista
Aperture Consultants CCA, LLC
Archimuse
Bonnie Bell-Curran and Gerald Curran
Larry and Jill Feldman
Todd Geremia and Anne Tam Vu
Stanley and Marcia Grubel
Jennifer Huffman
Conrad and Sarah Meyer
Nancy Montag
OLA Consulting Engineers, PC
Laura and Chris Owens
Plan A Advisors
Susan Fraysse Russ and Andrew N. Russ
Ellen and Timothy Sledge
Julia Santos Solomon and Martin Krakower, MD
SUMA Federal Credit Union
Thompson & Bender
Tammy M. Torres
Kate Waters and Lynette Phillips
Willett Public Affairs

Gala Committee

Gala Co-Chairs
Debra A. Blair
Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson
Kate Buggeln
Christina O’Neill

Committee Members
Maria and Steven Abbattista
Thomas A. D’Auria
Clare Bell
Mark Bergamini
Bruce Bernacchia
David Brent
Taryn Duffy
Christina Ha
Elinor Humphreys
Gweneth Humphreys
Elise J. Kessler
Robin Liebowitz
Nancy Montag
DeWayne N. Phillips and Caroline A. Wamsler, PhD
Angelique Piwinski
Rosina Rubin
Susan Fraysse Russ
Lorraine W. Shanley
Monica Shulman
Tammy Torres

If you could not attend the event but would like to support the Hudson River Museum, please make a donation here.

All proceeds benefit the HRM’s mission and programs. Your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.