Yaddo Summer Benefit Smashes Records
Attendees of the 2025 Yaddo Summer Benefit gather under a tent on the nonprofit retreat’s lawn for dramatic letter readings and a musical performance by singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant. Photo courtesy of Yaddo.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Yaddo, the famed 400-acre artists’ retreat in Saratoga Springs, drew a crowd of more than 450 supporters and raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars at its annual summer benefit last Thursday night. Both the number of attendees and the fundraising total were all-time highs, the nonprofit said.
Guests were treated to a buffet of bites and mixed drinks prior to the event’s main act: a series of dramatic letter readings performed by actor Oliver Wadsworth, singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, and Yaddo President Elaina Richardson; followed by an intimate performance at the piano by Merchant, who sang for the first time solo, her 2023 original song “Sister Tilly.” The letters were written either by or about some of the retreat’s most acclaimed artists-in-residence, such as Truman Capote, James Baldwin, Sylvia Plath, Leonard Bernstein, Langston Hughes, and many others.
This summer, Yaddo will be hosting a number of events, including Wine & Roses (offering live classical music paired with regional wines on July 17, July 31, and August 14), select Sunday yoga classes in the gardens through October, and a rare open house on September 27. The Yaddo Gardens will also be open to visitors until October 9. For tickets, event details, or to learn more, visit Yaddo.org.