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Pelham Art Center is pleased to announce its annual Spring fundraiser, Heart of Gold Gala, will take place on Friday, May 15th from 7-11pm at Split Rock Golf Club in the Bronx, NY. All proceeds from the event’s auctions will directly support Pelham Art Center’s art education for all ages, exhibitions, public programming, scholarships, and operations. Passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a fancy dessert and dancing will go hand in hand with live and silent auctions offering noteworthy packages and experiences, along with high-spirited, artful entertainment throughout the evening. This year, Pelham Art Center is proud to honor Sona Davidian and Dr. Anne Frost at the Heart of Gold Annual Gala.

Sona Davidian is a pillar of the Pelham Art Center – in a community of devoted supporters, she stands out for her exceptional service. The freshly renovated and revitalized Pelham Art Center we know today is a direct result of her efforts. She served two six-year terms on the Pelham Art Center Board, one in the 1990s and more recently 2018-2024. She led the board as Chairwoman and was an active committee member of the recent Capital Campaign that enabled major improvements to the building in 2024 and one undertaken in the 1990s. As the head of the Pelham office of Compass, the top real estate firm in Pelham, Sona has sponsored a number of Pelham Art Center programs, including this year’s We Are Family event. Her dedication to Pelham Art Center’s Board and activities, along with her consistent leadership and guidance, has greatly benefited the organization and helped advance its mission.

A veteran real estate agent, Sona has twice broken the record for listing and selling the highest-priced home ever brokered in Pelham. Sona’s contributions extend far beyond her professional achievements. She was recognized as a “Woman of Distinction” by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and County Legislator Jim Maisano, and in 2025 she was honored as “Person of the Year” by The Danny Fund for her contributions to the charity, which provides financial, emotional, and advocacy support for children with catastrophic illness or injury.

Pelham Art Center also proudly honors Dr. Anne Frost for her exceptional support of and commitment to Pelham Art Center’s core mission of “Art for All.” As founder and President of Project Community, one of Pelham’s longest-standing nonprofit organizations, Anne has personally championed numerous collaborative programs between Project Community and Pelham Art Center, such as Be the Influence and HomeTalks: Secrets Behind the Tech, that have engaged local youth through innovative art-based expression and creative and social-emotional learning. Her dedication reflects the values at the heart of Pelham Art Center’s mission and exemplifies how, by working together, we can expand opportunities for many and make an even greater impact on our community.

Over the course of her illustrious career, Dr. Frost’s work through Project Community — a cornerstone of Pelham’s social and emotional wellness network — has positively impacted the well-being of thousands of children, teenagers, families and schools for more than four decades.

At this year’s gala, live and silent auctions will offer an opportunity to purchase anything from original artwork to gift certificates galore – including special weekend getaways, world-class museum experiences, entertaining theater tickets, and more. Not only do auction winners get to enjoy the best our community has to offer, but local businesses and artisans have an opportunity to expand their reach to an engaged audience of arts lovers by contributing items that exemplify their business or brand.

The spring gala’s annual tradition of having local artists, designers, and creators interpret the theme of the event will continue, with inventive tablescapes reflecting the Heart of Gold theme. A new gala event format will feature passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a fancy dessert amidst these inspirational tablescapes. Party-goers are invited to round out the night dancing and mingling under the stars at Split Rock’s outside terrace. Special entertainment for the night will include energetic tunes spun by award-winning DJ Stephen Byfield. 

Interim Executive Director at Pelham Art Center Nancy Mazzei offered: “Our theme, ‘Heart of Gold’ for this year’s gala is a dedication to our 2 honoree’s Sona Dividian & Anne Frost. While public funding and individual giving have become highly unpredictable, Anne and Sona instead pushed for more workshops, camps and program partnerships with Pelham Art Center. Sona and Anne’s understanding of utilizing art as a tool to inspire and help people has added a dimension to what the art center does while supporting us in turbulent times. Both these fantastic women truly have “Hearts of Gold” that reach far beyond giving. I cannot wait to honor them both.” 

In addition to co-chairs Board President Christopher Dlutowski and Jaime Wright, this year’s host committee includes Board Chair Julia Fuller, Michelle Acosta, Fred Gallo, Carly Glick, Sonika Gupta, Gilyana Jones, Nancy Mazzei, Kristin Moore-Gantz, Michele Westrick, Alison Wiesenmaier.

Help Pelham Art Center nurture and celebrate the innumerable “Hearts of Gold” in our community by buying your tickets, sponsoring or donating today! To do so, visit the following link: GAPAC2026.givesmart.com.