After living and working for over a decade in New York City, Samir moved to the Hudson Valley in the summer of 2020. He is excited to contribute his unique skills and outlook in furthering the missions of HVSF. Early in his career in NYC, Samir worked at the Asia Society and Museum where he was encouraged to further his studies in arts administration at NYU. There he developed a passion for arts fundraising and started supporting fundraising efforts for local artists. Later, the work of several environmental artists inspired him to earn a Master of Arts degree in Urban Planning with a concentration in environmental design at Hunter College. A strong focus of his work during this time was the revitalization of the Rockaway Peninsula, which was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy. In support of local organizations, he helped implement dune planting to combat rising tides. Thereafter, he continued to support both individual artists as well as multiple non-profit organizations focused on culture, environmental sustainability, women’s rights and the livelihood of children. One such organization was UNICEF-USA, where he coordinated the growth of a program that mobilized and cultivated a donor base of young professionals through creative methods in fundraising, advocacy and education. From 2017 – 2019, he helped raise $6 million dollars for the world’s children. Samir joined HVSF in March of 2021, where he is particularly interested in working to broaden the reach of the theater.
