April 2010

Finding Alumnae:
During this past year, we have been searching for more Belvoir alumnae! By joining Facebook, we have been able to locate hundreds of alumnae. We found that there were several Belvoir groups created by alumnae! We then created “Belvoir Girls” for Belvoir alumnae. Via Facebook, it is possible to send a note to all registered members with one click of the mouse! This is fabulous!

We also have an alumnae database which we continue to update daily. Alumnae are always dropping in at camp, and we welcome their visits and include their information on the Belvoir database.

In January 2009, we hosted an Alumnae Party at Nancy’s former apartment at 145 Central Park West. Approximately forty alumnae gathered for socialization and a light supper. The same number joined us for our first “In-Camp” alumnae day, Saturday July 25th, 2009, at Belvoir.

Alumnae Day at Belvoir:
The women who joined us for Belvoir’s 2009 Alumnae Day attended camp from 1954 through 2006. All had a fabulous day at camp! Some alumnae watched classes, joined us for lunch, and shared stories with new and old friends. Others joined in the program taking a dance class, painting a picture, or enjoying a music lesson. Alumnae had a chance to talk with the present Belvoir campers and this interaction was both exciting and positive for all!

Belvoir will host its 3rd alumnae day, Saturday July 23, 2011! Plan to join us for the day, from 9am - 5pm. You are welcome to participate in the program, so please bring your sneakers, tennis racket, dancing clothes, instrument, and energy and smiles. We will announce this event over the internet on facebook, as well as sending emails to our alumnae list.

If you are on Facebook, please join “Belvoir Girls.” If you are not on Facebook, please register on our database by sending an email to: info@belvoirterrace.com. Please forward your email address along with your current name, address, phone number, cell phone number, and the years you attended Belvoir.

Second Generation Campers:
Daughters of alumnae continue to enjoy their summers at Belvoir! Among the alumnae who have one or more daughters at Belvoir are: Susie Eisner Eley, Erica Marks Panush, Lisa Jacob Schwarz, Robin Messing Bogdanoff, Alyssa Lembeck Klein, Laura Goldberg Jain, Tara Sherman Weiss, Jessica Pearlstein Zachs, Laura Butzel Berg, Lucy Cole Carney, and others! We look forward to more and more alumnae sending their daughters to Belvoir in future summers!

The Edna Y. Schwartz Scholarship Fund:
In 1980, Belvoir organized a not-for-profit scholarship fund to help assist the one or two campers it supported each year. Beginning in 2000, more attention was given to this fund as there was an increasing interest and demand in scholarship support. Scholarship students showing talent and commitment in one or more of the art areas adds diversity to the Belvoir community while raising the standard of excellence in all classes. Scholarship campers study at Juilliard pre-college, The School of American Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, The Chernower School, and many other wonderful schools and program. All scholarship applicants submit letters of recommendations from their schools and private teachers.

For the past ten years, Belvoir has been offering 10 - 15 talented young women the chance to experience a summer and summers at Belvoir. Several of these young women spend three or even four summers at Belvoir. Many of these students come from homes where the income is below $40,000 for a family of four, and most are either on scholarship at private schools or are in the public school system. Each scholarship camper has contributed to the Belvoir community while truly appreciating and benefitting from their special experience.

As a result of a June 2009 article in the New York Times describing Maestro Daniel Barenboim’s support of a Music School for Arab children in Israel, Belvoir supported two young women from Nazareth during the 2009 camp season. One of these girls, Mais, was an eighth grader interested in playing the flute, and the second student, Noor, a sixth grader, played the piano. Both young women enjoyed camp and shared their talents and their experiences as Arab Muslims in Israel with the entire Belvoir community.

Belvoir spent $147,000 on scholarship support in 2009. Some partial scholarships were given to returning campers whose parents were recently unemployed. Most money went, as usual, to needy, talented young women. Belvoir raised $106,000 in scholarship support. If you would like to donate to the Edna Y. Schwartz Scholarship Fund, please make your check out to: The Edna Y. Schwartz Scholarship Fund, and mail it to: Belvoir Terrace, 101 W. 79th Street, New York, NY 10024. All gifts are completely tax deductable. All gifts change the lives of girls today!

Over the years, the scholarship committee has held art auctions, a breakfast, and a performing arts concert to raise funds. The Belvoir community knows the program and the need, so please donate to the scholarship fund, so that other young women can enjoy and benefit from what you know is the supportive, educational, and life-changing, Belvoir experience.

Please let us know what you are doing! Please tell us about your career and family or any other news! If you are in a business that might be of interest to other alumnae, we will pass along that information! Please email us or contact us through Facebook. For instance, please look at alumna’s Susie Eisner Eley’s exciting art gallery at: susaneleyfineart.com. We would like to share more alumnae news and websites, so please be in touch…and Think Purple!

Weddings and Events at Belvoir:
Did you know, Belvoir is now hosting Weddings and Events in May, early June, late August and September. We recently hosted Debbie Lewkowicz’s wedding and had a wonderful weekend for 150 guests. Twenty of the younger guests stayed at Belvoir which they enjoyed. They went swimming during the day and partied at night. The wedding itself was a great success, under a tent in the front circle, and with cocktails, dinner and dancing in the dining rooms and living rooms of the Mansion. The terrace overlooking the mountains of the Berkshires was enjoyed throughout the evening. The food, flowers, and the opportunity to be together in the living room late at night added to the success of the wedding party.

Belvoir served an elegant buffet breakfast the following morning. Everyone enjoyed the ambiance of being at Belvoir. If you are planning a corporate retreat, a party or wedding let Belvoir cater and manage the affair. It is fun for us and great for the guests.

Please see some current wedding pictures at BelvoirTerrace.wordpress.com

Belvoir Blog – new and exciting Alumnae Information:
Along with a presence on Facebook, Nancy Goldberg, Belvoir Girls, and Belvoir World Girls, we also have a new blog at: BelvoirTerrace.wordpress.com. Please read some exciting Belvoir facts, activities, and alumnae updates. If you have an interesting career that grew out of your Belvoir experience and would like to share on our blog, please send your information and pictures to Meryl Natow, the alumna who organizes the blog. Meryl’s email is: mfnatow@college.harvard.edu.