As passionate advocates and dedicated supporters of The Rye Arts Center for over 30 years, Laurie and Rob Platek believe in the power of the Arts to inspire creativity, build community and positively impact lives. 

As a Rye Arts Center Gala committee member 32 years ago, Laurie wholeheartedly and fully engaged in the RAC, its mission, and its dedication to the community.  She was delighted to serve as the editor of the RAC Newsletter, "heARTbeat"; a classroom docent for the "Famous Artists" program; "Kids Focus" photography exhibit committee member; and as a "Painters on Location Plein Air Paint Out" Auction Chair. Two memorable highlights for her include the creation of the Digital Arts Lab as part of the then-new STEAM Education program and the breathtaking exhibit of local artist Irving Harper's Paper Sculptures!  Laurie also has very fond memories of serving under past Executive Directors Peggy Hill, Helen Gates, and Meg Rodriguez, and now Adam Levi.  

Laurie and Rob are most grateful to the RAC for nurturing and sustaining their longtime relationship which enabled their unwavering commitment to supporting the community outreach and scholarship program Head Start: Port Chester, offering art and music instruction to underserved Port Chester preschool children. 

As humbled and active philanthropists, Laurie and Rob are investing partners in various biotherapeutics and gene therapy ventures that fund ongoing research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, MS, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

They are proud benefactors of the Rutgers University Business School, the Rutgers University Scholars Initiative Program, and the Rutgers University RWJ Barnabas Health Athletic Performance Center. 

Additional philanthropic endeavors Laurie and Rob graciously focus on include ElevateNewYork (Board Advisors), The Global Medical Relief Fund; The Don Bosco Community Center, St. Baldrick's Foundation, Argrow’s House, Brightstar Community, Thistle Farms, Peace House Park City, and Differenza Donna in Italy. 

Laurie and Rob met at JP Morgan Chase as they began their careers as Analysts in the Executive Development Credit Training Program. 

Rob is a Partner at BDT & MSD Partners and serves as the Global Head of Private Credit and Real Estate. Together they have ownership investments in professional soccer clubs in Portugal and Salt Lake City, and are members of the Palazzo Strozzi Foundation in Florence and New York. 

They are longtime Rye and Deer Valley residents and have three children, Amada, Caroline and Robert, who joyfully took years of music lessons at the RAC, becoming proficient in violin, flute, and piano!