Ten Chimneys Foundation Volunteer

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Mission

Ten Chimneys Foundation’s Mission

Preserve and Share the buildings, furnishings, collections, and grounds of a national treasure – Ten Chimneys, the estate created by Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.
Serve as a continuing resource and powerful inspiration for theatre, the arts, and the art of living.

Offer public programs consistent with the Lunts’ varied interests and core values, while maintaining the integrity and intimacy of this extraordinary estate.

Ten Chimneys is a National Historic Landmark, a “Save America’s Treasures” project site, and is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. Ten Chimneys is owned by the non-profit 501(C)3 organization Ten Chimneys Foundation, Inc.

Volunteers are the heart of our organization. From tending Alfred’s gardens to leading inspirational tours to cleaning precious artifacts, Ten Chimneys offers volunteers the priceless sense of beauty, accomplishment, and community that the Lunts so cherished.

“As I enter the gate a small smile begins – I cannot help it! I feel an excitement and pride that I am, in a small way, involved in this venture. Thank you, for this fabulous opportunity.” - Ten Chimneys Foundation Volunteer

Tour Guides (Volunteer Docents and Shadows)

A tour at Ten Chimneys is more than a walk about a house; it’s a true experience of place. Because Ten Chimneys docents do not employ a script, there is freedom and flexibility to be creative in the moment during each tour and customize presentations for specific audiences.

In order to give both guests and docents the best possible experience, docents receive comprehensive training over a period of 14 weeks (approximately 2 hours per week). Although there is much to learn, we strive to provide training that allows docents to add their own interpretive flair and grace to their tour…to help guests feel as if the Lunts invited them personally.

For more information on the Ten Chimneys Volunteer Docent Program, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyssa Tsagong, at (262) 968-4161, ext. 212.

“Each tour is a bit like a performance of a play. When I see the guests responding as I entertain them, I get a feeling similar to being on stage.” -Docent

Preservation Volunteers

Do you have a keen eye for detail, an aptitude for organizing papers, an interest in researching historic furnishings, or skill with a needle and thread? Join the Curator and dedicated volunteers in documenting the Ten Chimneys collection. You’ll learn to see artifacts through a curator’s eyes, to properly store historic materials, and to safely care for your own heirlooms. For information on becoming a Preservation Volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyssa Tsagong, at (262) 968-4161, ext. 212.

Foundation Office Volunteers

The staff of Ten Chimneys Foundation is always looking for individuals to help around the office (and join us for a cup of coffee). Volunteers are welcome to set a regular schedule or add themselves to the office-project “Call me” list. For information on becoming an Office Volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyssa Tsagong, at (262) 968-4161, ext. 212.

Front Desk Volunteers

Guests to Ten Chimneys have always been welcomed with extraordinary hospitality. This warm tradition continues at the front desk of the Lunt-Fontanne Program Center as volunteers greet and register tour guests. Flexible hours, a pleasant environment, and the opportunity to introduce a diverse audience to the Ten Chimneys experience make this one of our most popular volunteer opportunities. For information on becoming a Front Desk Volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyssa Tsagong, at (262) 968-4161, ext. 212.

Gardening Volunteers

Do you find yourself daydreaming of the smell of warm earth and green leaves? Well, we are always searching for folks who’d like to exercise their green thumbs by tending to basic garden chores (weeding, watering, dead-heading, perhaps a bit of planting) in the various beds and boxes on the estate. You supply a couple hours during the tour season, we supply the plants, tools, and the idyllic setting. For information on becoming a Gardening Volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyssa Tsagong, at (262) 968-4161, ext. 212.

Housekeeping Volunteers

Roll up your sleeves and grab that dust cloth, we are looking for weekly cleaning help (dusting, vacuuming, etc.) in the Main House, Studio, and Cottage. Come for an hour or so, once a week, tidy up and enjoy the company of other volunteers in beautiful surroundings. Darling, cleaning simply can’t be more enjoyable than this! For information on becoming a Housekeeping Volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyssa Tsagong, at (262) 968-4161, ext. 212.

Museum Store Volunteers

Ten Chimneys guests find delightful gifts, keepsakes, and mementos in our Museum Store, “Design for Living.” We welcome individuals who would like to assist visitors in the discovery and selection of beautiful things that reflect the style, values, and legacy of the Lunts. Opportunities include showing products to customers, restocking displays, and performing simple register work. For information on becoming a Museum Store Volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyssa Tsagong, at (262) 968-4161, ext. 212.

Top of Page

Current Volunteer Materials

2010 Volunteers by Years of Service (36kb pdf)

Volunteering News

Sept. 21 All-Volunteer Meeting: Spotlight on the Lunts’ NYC Home

Sep 01, 2011

Ever been curious about the Lunts’ home in Manhattan? Director of Historic Preservation, Keith MacKay, will present photos and artifacts from their glorious New York apartment. We will also tell you all about our week with Olympia Dukakis and the 2011 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows. We hope you can join us on Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 6:00-8:00pm. Please RSVP to Alyssa at atsagong@tenchimneys.org.

Photos from the 2011 Volunteer Picnic

Aug 29, 2011

Take a look at the gorgeous pictures from a gorgeous day at Ten Chimneys. Our heartfelt thanks to our volunteers for their years and years of devotion to Ten Chimneys and to Jim Brozek for the day’s photography.

Last Volunteer Meeting of 2010

Oct 12, 2010

We’ll put the finishing touches on another wonderful season with a final volunteer meeting (more of a party, really) on Wednesday, November 10, from 6-8pm. We’ll gather in the lobby of the Program Center, and we’ll have cake and photos from the season. See you there.

2010 Volunteer Picnic in Pictures

Jul 30, 2010

What a day we had. Sunshine, music, treats, prizes, a dip in the pool, and friends like you. The Annual Volunteer Appreciation
Picnic is always one of our favorite days of the year. Visit our Flickr photo album to relive the memories.

2010 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic

Jul 01, 2010

Volunteers and their guests are invited to attend Ten Chimneys Foundation’s Volunteer Picnic Sunday, July 25th, 2010, noon to 3pm.