JBFC’s Connecting Our Community Celebration Raises Funds & Honors Visionary Leaders

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) invites community members, arts patrons, and film lovers to its highly anticipated Connecting Our Community Celebration on September 15, 2025. This annual signature event fuels the JBFC’s film and education programs, supporting innovative screenings, dynamic community outreach, and accessible learning experiences for students of all ages.

Honoring Exceptional Leadership
The evening’s festivities will spotlight extraordinary individuals dedicated to engaging audiences of all ages through the power of film and inspiring a lifelong passion for cinema and media arts:

• Ginny Gold — David Swope Leadership Award
  A founding supporter and current JBFC board member, Ginny Gold has been instrumental in shaping the organization into a premier nonprofit film and education destination. Her philanthropic leadership was key to launching the popular Take 3 Wine Bar and Café in April 2024, now a vibrant gathering space for film lovers.
• Will Reeve — New Lens Award
  An acclaimed ABC News correspondent and storyteller, Will Reeve created Will Reeve: Finding My Father, a deeply moving documentary retracing his father’s journey through intimate family footage. Beyond his creative achievements, he serves on the boards of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and the Rippowam Cisqua School and is an ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
• Impact Partners — Vision Award
  Jenny Raskin, Executive Director; Geralyn White Dreyfous, Co-Founder; and Dan Cogan, Co-Founder lead this groundbreaking organization that has revolutionized independent documentary funding since 2007. Impact Partners pioneered a unique model of bringing together a community of investors with filmmakers to tell powerful stories addressing critical global issues. In its 18-year history, it has financed more than 150 acclaimed films, including Icarus, Sugarcane, 32 Sounds, Aftershock, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Of Fathers and Sons, Dina, How to Survive a Plague, and Hell and Back Again. Through their leadership, Impact Partners has advanced both the art of cinema and public engagement with pressing social issues.

“The Connecting Our Community Celebration is a moment to honor those whose vision, creativity, and commitment make a meaningful difference,” said Mary Jo Ziesel, Executive Director of the Jacob Burns Film Center. “This year’s honorees inspire us through their leadership, generosity, and impact on our community, and we are grateful for the support that makes our work possible.”

Connecting Our Community Celebration Co-Chairs
The leadership for this important event includes Co-Chairs Ann & Weston Hicks, Ron & Cheryl Howard, Heidi & Richard Rieger, Rochelle & Mark Rosenberg, and Diane Sawyer. Their generosity and commitment ensure that this event will be a fitting tribute to our honorees and provide vital support for the JBFC’s film and education programs.

Sponsorship, Tickets, and Contributions
Tables are available at $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000, with individual tickets priced at $2,500 and $1,000. Those unable to attend can support the event through donations or by purchasing an e-Journal ad. For further information or to reserve your place, please contact Celebration HQ at burnsfilmcenter@resevt.com or call 212.627.1000.