Pitch Your Peers The Hamptons: A Collaborative Local Philanthropy Initiative 

The Hamptons chapter of Pitch Your Peers, a pioneering philanthropy initiative, held its third annual Pitch Day on October 25 at Scoville Hall in Amagansett. 

Since its launch in April 2023, PYP The Hamptons has united philanthropic women from the community to collaboratively identify and champion local non-profits that qualify for its annual collective grant. The grant pool for 2025 was $60,000 — a combination of each member’s annual $1,000 plus dues. These community leaders positioned PYP The Hamptons to provide significant funding to two non-profit organizations. In its inaugural year, the Hamptons chapter awarded i-tri, an empowerment organization instilling confidence in young girls through sport, $35,000. Last year, the Springs Food Pantry received $35,000, and PYP introduced a second prize grant of $10,000 awarded to Project Most. 

Again, this year, Pitch Day showcased the passions of its PYP members who identified deserving organizations across the Hamptons. Following the pitches on October 25, members voted to determine this year’s grant recipients: $50,000 for first place and $10,000 for second place.

This year’s first-place award of $50,000 was presented to The Retreat, while the second-place prize of $10,000 was awarded to Share the Harvest Farm. 

The Retreat has served the East End community for over 37 years, providing safety, shelter, and support for individuals and families affected by domestic/intimate partner violence, sexual assault, abuse, and human trafficking. Their mission is to break the cycle of violence and promote healing and safety. Offering free and confidential services, including a 24-hour bilingual hotline, counseling, legal advocacy, and emergency shelter, The Retreat is the only domestic violence shelter on the East End, providing approximately 35 percent of all available beds in Suffolk County. They are also the exclusive provider of age-appropriate violence prevention education in local schools.

Anne Kothari, Board Member, The Retreat, said, “I’m deeply committed to this cause, and I know what it’s like for a child witnessing violence and the effects it can cause. I’m so grateful to Pitch Your Peers for believing in The Retreat’s mission and for this extraordinary $50,000 grant. These funds will help make a difference in real lives.”

Cate Carbonaro, Executive Director of The Retreat, said, “We are so grateful to Pitch Your Peers for recognizing the urgency of our work. This $50,000 grant comes at a critical time as we navigate funding delays and growing need. It allows us to continue providing lifesaving services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking across Long Island.”

Share the Harvest Farm, a community nonprofit in East Hampton, focuses on combating food insecurity on the East End. Their mission is to cultivate and share fresh, organically grown produce with local food pantries, senior centers, and community organizations, ensuring all neighbors have access to nourishing food. Established in 2010 by community members responding to the urgent need for fresh produce, Share the Harvest has evolved from a small volunteer effort into a thriving farm, donating over 45,000 pounds of vegetables each season, with a commitment to donating at least 80 percent of its yield.

“We’re so grateful to Pitch Your Peers for recognizing the work we do at Share the Harvest Farm. This support will help us continue growing fresh, nourishing produce for our neighbors in need and ensure that everyone, regardless of circumstance, has access to the same beautiful, nutrient-rich food grown here on the East End. For a small farm and non-profit like ours, this kind of recognition and encouragement means the world,” said Meredith Arm, Executive Director and Farm Stand Director at Share the Harvest Farm.

The four non-profit organizations selected for the grant pitch included The American Heart Association (Heart of the Hamptons), presented by Samantha Macleod; East End Food, presented by Cindi Crain; The Retreat, presented by Anne Kothari and Cate Carbonaro; and Share The Harvest Farm, presented by Meredith Arm.

“This initiative transcends mere donations,” founder Brooke Bohnsack emphasized. “PYP members actively engage in the selection process, immersing themselves in a thorough pitch process that promotes education and evaluation of their preferred charities. Every dollar raised directly supports the grant award. Our members don’t wait for change; we create it.”

Community Impact and Grant Chair Julie Gauger added, “We aim for our members to be actively involved in the vetting process and to discover local non-profits they may not be familiar with. Even if a non-profit does not receive a grant, they gain increased visibility among our members regarding the diverse needs within the Hamptons.”

To learn more, visit pypthehamptons.org.