Sarah Maslin Nir Staff Reporter at the New York Times & Children’s Book Author mc ‘d by
Beatrice de Lavalette Olympian Honoree
honoring
Joey Wölffer Leading Equestrian & Entrepreneur Honoree
All proceeds from tonight’s celebration will help to support life-changing therapeutic horseback riding programs for New Yorkers with disabilities, older adults, veterans and first responders as well as care for our cherished herd of horses.
Beatrice de Lavalette
OLYMPIAN HONOREE -
MEMBER OF THE U.S. PARA
DRESSAGE TEAM
Beatrice de Lavalette was a member of the U.S. Para Dressage Team for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games with her horse, Clarc.
De Lavalette was raised in France and Belgium and now lives in the United States. She grew up as an athlete and equestrian and, as a junior, partnered with a dressage horse, Delegada X (“DeeDee”).
Headed home to the U.S. for spring break in March 2016, her life took a sharp change of direction. While waiting in line at the Brussels Airport, a terrorist bombing seriously wounded de Lavalette. She lost both of her lower legs. After months in intensive care, she began riding again, returned to the saddle with her beloved DeeDee and trained to compete in Para Dressage.
De Lavalette often shares her story as a motivational speaker. In January 2019, she was a featured speaker at the Equestrian Businesswomen’s Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 2021, she was honored by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) at the FEI General Assembly in Antwerp, Belgium, where she was presented with the Against All Odds Award for her courageous story and inspiring recovery. In 2022, she was the World Championship Para Dressage bronze medalist and was named the United States Dressage Federation’s Athlete of the Year in Para Dressage. De Lavalette lives in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, and trains in Wellington, Florida.
Joey Wölffer
LEADING EQUESTRIAN & ENTREPRENEUR
HONOREE - CO-OWNER & CHIEF BRAND
OFFICER OF WÖLFFER ESTATE
Joey Wölffer is a native New York entrepreneur, chief brand officer, and co-owner of Wölffer Estate Vineyard, based in the Hamptons. With a mission to carry on the innovative legacy of her father, Wölffer and her brother Marc took over the winery in early 2013. That same year, they introduced the brand’s iconic Summer in a Bottle Rosé, which traditionally sells out each summer and is the No.1 fastestgrowing rosé in New York City.
In addition to the vineyard, Joey and Marc Wölffer also took over The Tasting Room, Wine Stand and Wölffer Estate Stables, located on the 170-acre estate in the heart of the Hamptons. As a champion equestrian, Wölffer oversees the world-class stable facility, which combines heritage, beauty and a passion for excellence. Before joining the family business, Wölffer founded the Styleliner Truck, a luxury accessories boutique on wheels. In 2015, she opened her boutique in Sag Harbor, New York, and online shop at joeywolffer.com.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Wölffer began her career as a jewelry designer for Meems LTC, providing accessories for several High Street stores in the UK and later became a jewelry designer for Nine West and Trend Director for The Jones Group. She is a mother of two with her husband, Max Rohn.
Sarah Maslin Nir
MASTER OF CEREMONIESCHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR & NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER
Sarah Maslin Nir is a staff reporter for The New York Times, a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the author of the new book The Star Horse, Book 3 in her Once Upon a Horse series of children’s books, featuring true stories from across the equestrian world. Nir is also the author of the adult nonfiction book Horse Crazy: The Story of a Woman and a World in Love with an Animal. She rides hunter horses competitively and is the mom of five horses and one foal.
Noel Griffin
GALLOPNYC VOLUNTEER HONOREE
Bronx-born to Irish immigrants, Noel Griffin has volunteered over 450 hours at GallopNYC, becoming a key part of our community. His love for horses began during childhood summers in Ireland. A former Search & Rescue swimmer in the U.S. Navy and FDNY member in Hell’s Kitchen, Noel has also volunteered with the Special Olympics and competed as a triathlete and ultra marathon runner for various causes. Whether helping riders, supporting veterans, or caring for our horses, Noel’s dedication and kindness shine through in every aspect of his work at GallopNYC. We are proud to honor his incredible commitment. We are incredibly grateful for his contributions to our organization.
Chase Williams
GALLOPNYC RIDER HONOREE
Chase Williams, an 8-year-old 4th grader, is a lovable and funny math whiz with a passion for numbers. His big dreams include becoming a roller coaster designer, a human calculator for NASA, an Olympic horse rider, a math teacher, or a YouTuber. Chase has been riding for two years, working on his sitting trot and growing as an independent rider. Riding with GallopNYC has helped him develop both physically and socially, providing an activity that supports his unique needs.
Juan Tirona
GALLOPNYC RIDER HONOREE
Lieutenant Colonel Juan Tirona has been a vital part of GallopNYC’s veteran program, sharing his journey with his wife Camille and their children, Brandon and Gabby. After nearly 31 years of honorable service in the U.S. including deployments to Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, Juan’s resilience and determination shine both in his riding and his military service. Camille, inspired by the transformative impact of the program, now serves on the GallopNYC board and volunteers as lesson support. Their family’s connection to GallopNYC embodies the power of community and healing.
Saskia Thoonen
GALLOPNYC RIDER HONOREE
Saskia, 12, began riding at GallopNYC in January 2020 through the NYU Anxiety study. Over the past four years, horseback riding has transformed her life, helping her build confidence, manage anxiety, and improve her spatial awareness and balance. Passionate about horsemanship, Saskia takes her lessons seriously, often arriving early to memorize her patterns so she can fully focus on guiding her horse. She’s also a dedicated advocate for GallopNYC, raising over $1,500 from more than 25 donors and donating a portion of her toy sales with her sister. As a true ambassador for GallopNYC, Saskia is committed to raising awareness and funds, ensuring we can continue to provide life-changing riding lessons, rain or shine.
Jennie Bucove
GALLOPNYC INCOMING
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tonight, we are thrilled to announce the new Executive Director of GallopNYC, Jennie Bucove. Jennie has been working for us as COO for several months. She brings a wealth of experience as an executive leader, having successfully launched and grown businesses, while expertly navigating strategic challenges. She is the founder of Furnished Living, a furniture line focused on the senior community, and has held leadership roles at The New York Times in strategic planning, corporate development, and advertising. Jennie also holds an MBA from Columbia University, further strengthening her impressive background. A lifelong horse woman, Jennie’s insight and lived experience will undoubtedly help broaden access to therapeutic horse experiences for even more New Yorkers with disabilities, who rely on our programs. We are excited to see the impact she will continue to make in our community. Welcome Jennie, to the GallopNYC community!
