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Dawn Evans Greenberg

About Dawn Evans Greenberg

Dawn Greenberg is the executive director and founder of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival which recently celebrated its 8th year. She is a 20-year resident of New Castle.

Making Headway Foundation Turns 25!

November 12, 2021 by Dawn Evans Greenberg

Maya and Ed Manley.Founders, Making Headway Foundation

Chappaqua Parents on a Lifetime Mission

You may have seen Making Headway’s sign on King or you may even know that Making Headway works with kids with brain tumors, but not really understand what that means.

I was lucky enough to spend time talking with two of the founders of Making Headway and I came away enlightened and inspired. Maya and Edward Manley handled the most traumatic event of their lives–seeing their daughter through diagnosis, treatment and the aftermath of an invasive brain tumor–and turned their family’s experience into a world class foundation whose focus is care, comfort and a cure for families facing pediatric brain tumors.

Over 25 years ago, the Manley’s daughter Cynthia began exhibiting symptoms that concerned her parents. It took three years until doctors were able to diagnose a brain tumor resting on her pituitary gland. Through the surgery and long period of chemo and radiation therapy that led to Cynthia’s recovery, they were immersed in the world of brain tumor treatment and its aftermath. When Cynthia graduated HGHS and eventually Ithaca College, after two gap years in Switzerland, the Manleys, along with Clint Greenbaum, were driven to create an organization that would help provide the emotional and practical support needed by families like them.

During Cynthia’s recovery, the Manley family was lucky enough to have the full support of the Chappaqua Central School District who was able to make accommodations, send tutors to the home and provide the emotional support needed to ensure Cynthia graduated on time. The family was acutely aware that many other children did not have the advantage of a district such as ours. From this idea, the Manleys have created a foundation that provides millions of dollars in support and resources to patients and families dealing with pediatric brain tumors.

Making Headway’s goals of “care and comfort” means a team of six education advocates and 29 psychologists are available to help families work with school districts to craft and execute Individualized Education Plans for each recovering student. Mr. Manley notes that every child who experiences chemotherapy will have some sort of learning disability to address. They provide sibling help, psychological care for parents and practical support for families. They seem proudest of the play room they support at The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center. They have created a bright and cheerful area with arts and crafts, games and healthy snacks. Prior to Covid, Mrs. Manley volunteered at the center two days each week and strived every day to make the lives of families easier. As she says “We give them courage for the next day, the next week, the next month.” Making Headway also funds several positions at the hospital designed to help families, including a Neuro-Psychologist, a Care Coordinator, and a Clinical Trial Nurse. 

The other pillar of the foundation is “cure” and the Foundation has invested over $7,000,000 in research to find better treatments and novel medications. Additionally they fund the Brain Tumor Tissue Bank at NYU Medical Center which allows researchers from all over the world to have access to tumor samples taken during each surgery.

How is Cynthia Manley Now?
She is married and lives upstate with her husband. She graduated from Ithaca with a studio art degree. Her work and ideas are woven throughout the children’s center. Mrs. Manley notes that Cynthia’s first job was at ICD Jewelry where Varda Singer treated her with patience and kindness that her parents have never forgotten.

How can you help?
The year marks Making Headway Foundation’s 25th anniversary serving children with a brain or spinal cord tumor. The need to help these children is greater than ever before, with mental health challenges that are compounded by the impact of COVID.  Mrs. Manley also notes that the holidays can be particularly difficult for families dealing with an uncertain future. If you live in Chappaqua and want to learn more, feel free to stop by their office at 115 King Street. And if you want to directly help local families that have a child with a brain or spinal cord tumor, please visit MakingHeadway.org and click on donate.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Ed and Maya Manley, Making Headway Foundation, Pediatric Cancer

All About the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on October 14!

August 30, 2017 by Dawn Evans Greenberg

Notes from the Festival’s Founder!

For one glorious day each fall, authors, readers and their families flock to downtown Chappaqua for the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF). Founded by a group of volunteers in 2013, the festival is now considered the preeminent children’s book festival in the tri-state area.

More than 90 children’s book authors and illustrators from as far away as Maryland fill the daylong festival with laughter, excitement and fun for children of all ages. Authors take the time for conversation and inspiration, to demonstrate the art of illustration and to read aloud favorite books in the adjacent St. Mary the Virgin’s garden. Attendees can expect festival favorites such as Rosemary Wells and Jane Yolen to return plus new authors such as Betsy and Ted Lewin and Roxie Munro.

Illustration by Sujean Rim

Families can find additional activities from book making to balloon animals to a Gaga pit in the family fun area. Food trucks and the Great Chappaqua Bake Sale provide many lunch options and scrumptious dessert and treats.

Since it’s inception The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale has raised more than $130,000 for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign and has connected children with more than 1.3 million meals. “It’s hard to believe this will be our eighth year working to raise monies to fund school and summer meals programs for kids in New York State. The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale community of supporters and volunteers make this event successful each year and we are particularly inspired by the many children who devote their time and passion to helping children in need,” noted Alison Spiegel, one of the Bake Sale founders.

A portion of the proceeds from the CCBF go to JCY-WCP literacy programs in schools throughout Westchester. The fifth annual CCBF is on Saturday, October 14th, from 10-4 pm. Admission is free. Cash and credit cards are accepted for book and food purchases. Free parking all day available at the nearby Chappaqua Metro-North train station.

For information on sponsorship and volunteering, visit www.ccbfestival.org or visit us on Facebook at Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.

This Just In…New Not to Be Missed Authors


Betsy and Ted Lewin – Author and/or Illustrator of almost 200 children’s books plus recipients of numerous awards including the Caldecott Honor Book Medal and the NY Times Best Illustrated Award


Julie Fogliano – Author of beloved books including When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons and Old Dog Baby Baby


Roxie Munro – Author/Illustrator of more than 40 nonfiction and concept books for children using “gamification” to encourage reading, learning and engagement; NY Times Best Illustrated Award recipient


Stephen Savage – Author and Illustrator of 9 books for children, including the NY Times bestselling picture book Polar Bear Night, written by Lauren Thompson and creator of the Where’s Walrus? books, Supertruck and Little Tug

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: books, Chappaqua, children, Children's Book Authors, Dawn Evans Greenberg, Event, festival, New Authors, New Castle, The Chappaqua Children's Book Festival

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