Volunteer Open House to Take Place at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside on Sept. 15

TARRYTOWN, NY (Aug. 21, 2007) — Those interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, a property of the non-profit organization Historic Hudson Valley, are invited to attend a Volunteer Open House on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

The open house will feature a brief presentation describing the historic homestead of Washington Irving, America’s “Founding Father of Literature,” and the various volunteer positions available. Interested participants will have a chance to meet and speak with site staff. Refreshments will be served.

Opportunities include working as a tour guide, working as a visitor services assistant at weekend special events, and staffing hands-on activities during events.

“There are any number of ways that folks can make a contribution at Sunnyside,” said Dina Rose Friedman of Irvington, Sunnyside site director. “Our weekend special events provide opportunities to meet and greet the public as well as assist younger visitors with craft activities. For those individuals who have more time to give and a keen interest in history, we are always looking for volunteer guides. We are, of course, grateful for any amount of time that our volunteers can offer.”

New this year, the Sunnyside staff is looking for families with children in fifth grade or above who want to volunteer together as a family activity.

Historic Hudson Valley, a non-profit educational organization that interprets the history, culture, and landscape of the Hudson River Valley, was founded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. as Sleepy Hollow Restorations in 1951. A leader in the field of historic preservation, Historic Hudson Valley offers special events, school programs, and daily presentations to hundreds of thousands of visitors at its various sites in the Hudson Valley.

To reserve a space at the Volunteer Open House, call Site Manager Christine Bannon at 914-591-8763, ext. 10, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . For information: www.hudsonvalley.org.