The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill is a nonprofit organization that fully embraces Mrs. Roosevelt’s call to build a better world through far-reaching programs that touch people worldwide – to be her heart, hand, and voice in realizing a better world.
ERVK inspires and empowers individuals and organizations to use their time, talent and resources to build a just and sustainable world, close to home and abroad, by providing programs and experiences epitomizing Eleanor Roosevelt's passion and committment to human rights, principled leadership, engaged citizenship and social justice for all.
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
Stone Cottage
History
ERVK was founded in 1977 to preserve Eleanor Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park, New York and to provide programs inspired by her values and example. Today, the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site is maintained by the US National Park Service (NPS). ERVK has a unique partnership with the NPS and collaborates with them on special projects.
For additional information on our origins, history, and past ERVK programs, download our 30th Anniversary Brochure (Adobe Reader required):
Values:
- Compassion
- Courage
- Curiosity
- Collaboration
Programs:
Program Chair - Holly Feirstein
Current Programs:
Girls' Leadership Worldwide
(formerly Girl's Leadership Workshop)
Director - Sara Nowlin
Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal
Human Rights Initiatives
Programs In Development:
Boys' Leadership Worlwide Committee Chair - Linda Mann
Women in Community College Committee Chair - Sheila Appel
Investment opportunities available for all programs
For more information on
investment and partnership opportunities
Executive Director
Kathleen Durham
kdurham@ervk.org
Board of Directors
Mary Jane Von Allmen, Chair
Dana vanderHeyden, 1st Vice Chair
Mary Louise Van Winkle, 2nd Vice Chair
Anne Conroy, Secretary
Edward Summers, Treasurer
Michael Doyle
Tina Chirico
Holly Feirstein
Jack Gagliardo
Lewis C. Kirschner
Toyanna Mayo
Padmini Murthy
JoAnne Myers
Emily O'Neill
Kip O'Neill
Michell Speight
Marc vanderHeyden
Emeritus:
Jane Plimpton Plakias
Advisory:
Bobbie Birleffi
Blanche Wiesen Cook
Wendy Roosevelt Fahy
Richard Kaplan
Madeline Kunin
Timmian Massie
Frances Taft
