The Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards were created in 2007 to honor Barnabas McHenry’s extensive contributions and accomplishments, to celebrate Barney’s leadership, and to foster future leaders in the Hudson River Valley. More about Barney McHenry. 

The Awards provide financial support to the “pairing” of young leaders and exemplary projects that make significant contributions in environmental conservation, historic preservation and the arts in the Hudson River Valley. In 2010, on an experimental basis, we will award a grant for a project that focuses on building tourism in the valley.

These awards, one in each catagory, of up to $5,000 are made annually. The Open Space Institute serves as the fiscal and administrative sponsor of the Awards process. 

Any non-profit working in the Hudson Valley in the fields of environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts, and/or tourism is eligible to nominate a candidate and project. An advisory committee selects the award winners.

With the interest from the Barnabas McHenry Endowment Fund, a half-million dollar fund established by OSI in 2007, the awards will be granted to support pairings of young leaders and exemplary projects that make significant contributions in the areas of environmental conservation, historic preservation,  arts and tourism in the Hudson River Valley.

The entirety of the award itself is to be paid to the young leader by the nominating organization. 

The Open Space Institute will serve as the fiscal, investment and administrative sponsor of the endowment and the award process.  We welcome additional donations to the endowment that will allow OSI to further support the cultivation of the next generation of visionaries in the Hudson River Valley.  

Eligibility:
Any nonprofit organization working in the Hudson Valley may nominate a candidate and the project that he/she will implement.  We are looking for thoughtful pairings of projects and future leaders. The project should be about the Hudson Valley and focus on one of the following disciplines: environmental conservation, historic preservation, arts or tourism. 

Eligible candidates are undergraduate or graduate students; high school students are not eligible. The project itself may be in the form of a summer internship or a project that extends throughout the year.

Nominating Package should include:

1. Nomination Form completed by the nominating organization

2. Letter from the candidate (guidelines)

3. Candidate’s resume, including academic achievements

4. Organizational Budget 

 Submit all 4 documents in Nominating Package in one email. These documents should be received by Antonia Bowring - abowring@osiny.org

Application Materials

Nomination Form

Organizations should fill out the Nomination Form.

Candidate's (Intern) Letter Guidelines

• We request that the candidate’s letter not exceed one page, single-spaced.
• Explain the importance of this project to you.
• Explain why you are qualified to do this project.

Deadlines for 2010

Feb. 24, 2010 Nominations due. *extended 2/12/10

March 19, 2010– Award winners and sponsors are notified.

May 26, 2010 – Award winners are publicly announced at OSI’s annual luncheon (awardees are expected to attend).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the nomination comprised of?
The nomination has two parts: (1) a project about the Hudson Valley related to environmental conservation, historic preservation, arts and tourism; (2) the profile of the “young leader” who will undertake the project.

Who makes the nomination?
The organization sponsoring the pairing of project and the candidate.

How much do award recipients receive?
Each award recipient receives up to $5,000 and the nominating entity receives up to $750 to defray administrative costs. The funds are granted to the nominating entity which disperses them to the award winner.

What kinds of entities are eligible to make a nomination? 
Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working in the field(s) of environmental conservation, historic preservation or the arts. The nominating entities do not need to be physically located in the Hudson River Valley but the projects should be in or about the geography comprising the ten counties of the Greenway and Hudson River National Heritage Area (Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester) and the upper Hudson Valley.

Can an organization submit more than one nomination?
Yes, as long as each nomination is for a specific pairing of a project and a candidate.

Who identifies the young leader?
The nominating organization chooses the candidate. Or the student can find an organiztion to nominate him/her.

What is the definition of a young leader?
A student who has demonstrated both leadership and a commitment to excellence in a chosen field.

Does the award winner need to be a student?
Yes, either an undergraduate or a graduate student. High school students are not eligible.

Does this project have to be undertaken and completed in the summer?
No, it can be a project that occurs during the school year or during the summer.

Does the project span a certain timeframe? 
No.  The award can fund a summer project or one that continues for up to a year.

Can the award be given for ongoing research?
Yes, with two clarifications. First, the nominating entity should be able to demonstrate that the rest of the project is achievable without additional McHenry Award funding. Second, the discreet segment of the project, funded by the McHenry Award, should result in a concrete deliverable.

Which types of tourism projects would be eligible?
The focus is on strengthening tourism in the Hudson Valley. A qualified proposal should promote and enhance those special qualities for which the Hudson Valley is distinguished. That is: its splendid landscapes, flourishing agriculture, superb infrastructure of historic buildings and places, and a vibrant arts and museum community.

More about Barnabas McHenry

For the past forty years, Barney McHenry has worked to protect the Hudson River Valley its landscapes, heritage and culture.  As counsel to DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace, founders of Reader's Digest, he was the principal architect of the Wallace Funds, which have contributed to the arts, education, humanities, and the environment throughout the Hudson River Valley. He demonstrates his commitment to the region as a Member of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, Chair of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council, Co-Chair of the Hudson River Valley Natural Heritage Area, President of Boscobel, and Trustee of both Friends of the Hudson Valley and the Open Space Institute.

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