New Grant Supports Professional Development for Land Conservation
December 26, 2025
By Yvette DeBow-Salsedo
In 2025, the Leslie Feely Memorial Fund was established by the family of Leslie Feely to support the hiring at the Trust young and/or career changing adults entering the field of conservation and stewardship.
Leslie, a well-known art dealer in New York, had a deep love for the rural beauty and bounty of eastern Long Island. “I am so pleased that your work is ongoing. It is a profound tide that you are fighting. Although a recent trip on the north fork was sort of shocking! The intensity of agriculture up there is so impressive. I wish you all the best of luck having an impact on the south fork as well,” said Leslie’s sister Joan Feely.
This grant was put to use in early 2025 when we hired Alex Doskoez full time as Land Steward Associate in our Stewardship Department. “I grew up on Eastern Long Island and plan to stay here for as long as I possibly can, as it is such a beautiful and unique place. Joining the team at the Peconic Land Trust has only made me more appreciative of the place I call home. Living near vast stretches of farmland but also being able to end up at an ocean beach in nothing more than a 15-minute drive is truly something to cherish,” said Alex.
“The important work we do to preserve communities and the natural resources around us can only be accomplished by attracting, developing, and retaining talented professionals on an ongoing basis. Leslie Feely valued our work and understood it cannot be done without dedicated staff. For the next 10 years, we will be applying Leslie’s donation to help subsidize opportunities to learn and contribute to our vision – a Long Island where farms, nature and communities thrive. We appreciate Leslie Feely and her family for being a part of our vision,” said Irene Sierra, Senior Vice President, HR & Operations.
Yvette DeBow-Salsedo
Vice President
ydebow@peconiclandtrust.org