Updated posts 2026
Step into a world of elegance and philanthropy as Jacqueline Weld Drake invites you to her exclusive Holiday Soiree for Casita Maria. An iconic socialite, philanthropist, and art connoisseur, Jacqueline Weld Drake is renowned for her unwavering commitment to supporting the arts and empowering communities. This enchanting event promises an unforgettable evening of glamour, artistry, and giving back.
In keeping with her annual Christmas tradition, Jacqueline Weld Drake, welcomed the children of the Casita Maria Choir to her art-filled Park Avenue residence for caroling at an intimate holiday soiree. Impeccable dressed students from the South Bronx, ages eight through ten, performed Jingle Bells, Silent Night, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, and a spirited reedition of Feliz Navidad, led by their Teaching Artist Horacio Martinez. Afterwards each child found a present under the Christmas tree specially chosen and wrapped by their hostess.
The important business of the evening included bestowing the annual The William E. Simon Scholarship, for students enrolled in Roman Catholic High Schools within New York, which went to Mia J Fernandez Sanchez, who is enrolled at St. Catherine’s and Neveah Byrd enrolled at Monsignor Scanlan High School.
Scholarships of this kind address a specific gap in the education landscape. Catholic high schools in New York charge tuition well below private independent schools but still beyond what many families in the South Bronx can absorb, particularly with more than one child. For students who have found their footing in an arts program and want to continue in a structured environment, the difference between a scholarship and no scholarship often determines which school they attend rather than whether they attend one at all.
Joining the fun were Casita Maria board members Martha Bograd, George Corton, Sissi Fleitas, Michèle Gerber Klein, Alberto Mariaca, Patrick Moran, Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas, and Jean Shafiroff, and Kristina Rivera Lugo, Interim Executive Director of Casita Maria as well as friends including Steven M. L. Aronson, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Sharon King Hoge, Mercedes Bograd Levin, Alicia Lubowski-Jahn, Alice Lutz, and Christopher English Walling.
Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, the oldest Latin charity in New York City, provides high-quality arts education to over 1,000 students each day. Located in the country’s poorest zip code, the South Bronx, Casita Maria creates a safe, welcoming community, enriching and uplifting youth and families, producing well-rounded individuals who go on to fulfill their dreams.
