Staff & Founders
Leslie Bensley
Leslie is the former Executive Director of the Morris County Tourism Bureau, which she held for twenty-four years. In 2010, Governor Corzine appointed her to serve on the Governor’s Task Force for Heritage Tourism, where she served as vice-chair. The task force published the Heritage Tourism Plan for New Jersey, which serves as the state roadmap for heritage tourism development. In addition, Leslie received the 2013 Award of Recognition from the New Jersey Historical Commission for longtime support, advocacy, and promotion of Morris County’s history and historic sites.
S. Dillard and Adrienne Kirby Family Philanthropic Fund
Dillard and Adrienne Kirby raised their family in Mendham, just outside of Jockey Hollow National Historical Park, and have hiked every trail within its boundary. They have been involved in supporting several documentaries of personal interest, which have been viewed on PBS, including Morristown: Where America Survived, a film based on John Cunningham’s account of the ‘hard winter’ of 1779-1780 in Jockey Hollow. An abbreviated version of the movie is on view at the visitors’ center and was also supported by the Wentworths.
Kim and Finn Wentworth,
The Dearhaven Fund
Kim and Finn Wentworth are lifelong New Jersey residents and live in Morristown, NJ. Kim has focused her community based activities on three particular areas of interest: the natural environment, early childhood education, and primary care medical initiatives. She is currently a Trustee of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, a former Morris County Park Commissioner, and the namesake of the Kim M. Wentworth Chair in Environmental Studies at the College of the Atlantic.
Mark X. Wentworth
Mark X. Wentworth is the Founder and Winemaker of Wentworth Vineyards, a critically-acclaimed producer of terroir- driven Estate Grown wines. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Mark has a passion for responsible land stewardship and farms his vineyards in keeping with organic and regenerative principles. He previously served on the Board of Directors for Mendocino Winegrowers and the Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association, and was a Councilor of the Save the Redwoods League for several years. Mark and his wife Katie have three daughters who share the familial love of nature, the outdoors, and good grapes.
Alice Cutler
Following careers on Wall Street and in the apparel industry, Alice became a community volunteer twice serving as Board President and Interim Director of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum. She also served as president of the Junior League of Morristown and the Garden Club of Morristown. Currently, she is president of the Trustees of the Green, a position she has held for the past 8 years. Other volunteer boards on which she has served include the Morris Educational Foundation, Grow it Green Morristown, the Willowwood Foundation, Patriots Path Council of BSA, Morris Arts and the United Way of Morris County.
Alice spent countless happy hours hiking the trails in Jockey Hollow along with her three sons, all who became Eagle Scouts.
Press Releases
Friends of Jockey Hollow Expands Its Capabilities, Hires Greg SochaMorristown, NJ – [February 2, 2026] – Friends of Jockey Hollow (FOJH) is excited to announce the hiring of Greg Socha, who begins his tenure with the organization on February 2, 2026, as its Deputy Director. Greg will collaborate closely with Executive Director Leslie Bensley to ensure a smooth transition and assume directorship in mid-2026. The decision to expand FOJH’s capabilities is the result of a recent strategic planning session that recognized the organization's significant growth since its founding in 2022 and the need for greater capacity.Morristown local Greg Socha has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, with a focus on land conservation and stewardship throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining FOJH, Greg was a Senior Project Manager at The Trust for Public Land (TPL), where he led land protection efforts across New Jersey. He was responsible for sourcing, structuring, and financing conservation projects, as well as managing due diligence, closings, and ensuring permanent stewardship for all protection initiatives. Before his tenure at TPL, Greg spent 10 years leading the Land Conservation and Stewardship team for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. He is active in the community and previously served as the President of the Board of Trustees for Grow It Green Morristown. Greg holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Forestry from the Yale School of the Environment.Since 2022, FOJH has raised over $2 million to support a wide range of projects at Jockey Hollow, including the recent renovation of the 1974 Jockey Hollow Comfort Station and funding the park's continued operation during the recent government shutdown. This year, FOJH, working with Morristown National Historical Park staff, has assumed expanded responsibility for enhancing the Annual Spring Encampment at Jockey Hollow, scheduled for April 18–19, as part of the 250th anniversary celebration. FOJH will also break ground on the first new trail in the park in over 80 years, interpreting the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny of 1781, the largest mutiny of the American Revolution. FOJH’s Campaign America 250 will continue in order to raise much-needed funding to support significant new initiatives, including the planned renovation of the main Jockey Hollow Visitors Center. Media Contact:
Leslie T. Bensley, Executive Director
fojh1780@outlook.com | fojh.orgwww.nps.gov/aboutus/visitation-numbers.htmFOJH Makes First Contribution to Morristown National Historical Park’s Jockey Hollow
Leslie Bensley, Executive Director of Friends of Jockey Hollow (FOJH), reports that it has made its first contribution to Morristown National Historical Park’s (MNHP) Jockey Hollow. In late June, a new digital display system was installed at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center to better assist people by supplying user-friendly information about all there is to see and do while visiting the park. The state-of-the-art 65” high-resolution monitor is configured with a cloud-based content management system which will be regularly updated. Content includes essential park notifications, a calendar of events, educational videos, and even local weather conditions.
The FOJH, working in partnership with Morristown NHP, learned in late spring that having a monitor such as this would provide the staff at the information desk with a supplemental tool; the Visitor Center at Jockey Hollow is often busy, especially when tour groups arrive. “We are grateful for our new partnership with the FOJH and are pleased to have this project in place just in time for the summer season,” said Thomas Ross, Superintendent, MNHP.
“It is gratifying to see our first effort come to fruition,” said Bensley. The project fits perfectly with the mission and goals of the newly created Friends of Jockey Hollow. FOJH serves as an independent organization to protect, preserve, and promote this treasured National Historical Park, whose environmental quality, recreational value, and historic significance keep our rich cultural heritage alive for the enjoyment of current and future generations of visitors.
Jockey Hollow’s grounds are currently open daily, 8 am to 8 pm, while its Visitor Center is now open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm. All park grounds and facilities at Morristown National Historical Park are free of charge.
To learn more about Friends of Jockey Hollow or to donate: visit www.fojh.org
FOJH Makes First Contribution to Morristown National Historical Park’s Jockey Hollow
Leslie Bensley, Executive Director of Friends of Jockey Hollow (FOJH), reports that it has made its first contribution to Morristown National Historical Park’s (MNHP) Jockey Hollow. In late June, a new digital display system was installed at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center to better assist people by supplying user-friendly information about all there is to see and do while visiting the park. The state-of-the-art 65” high-resolution monitor is configured with a cloud-based content management system which will be regularly updated. Content includes essential park notifications, a calendar of events, educational videos, and even local weather conditions.
The FOJH, working in partnership with Morristown NHP, learned in late spring that having a monitor such as this would provide the staff at the information desk with a supplemental tool; the Visitor Center at Jockey Hollow is often busy, especially when tour groups arrive. “We are grateful for our new partnership with the FOJH and are pleased to have this project in place just in time for the summer season,” said Thomas Ross, Superintendent, MNHP.
“It is gratifying to see our first effort come to fruition,” said Bensley. The project fits perfectly with the mission and goals of the newly created Friends of Jockey Hollow. FOJH serves as an independent organization to protect, preserve, and promote this treasured National Historical Park, whose environmental quality, recreational value, and historic significance keep our rich cultural heritage alive for the enjoyment of current and future generations of visitors.
Jockey Hollow’s grounds are currently open daily, 8 am to 8 pm, while its Visitor Center is now open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm. All park grounds and facilities at Morristown National Historical Park are free of charge.
To learn more about Friends of Jockey Hollow or to donate: visit www.fojh.org
Our Thanks
- Hans Dekker, President, Community Foundation of New Jersey
- Photography from the Morris County Tourism Bureau
Our Thanks
- Morristown Chapter DAR
- Photography from Mary Fettes, Chase Heilman
Our Thanks
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference & their talented trail supervisors:
- Robert Jonas
- Estelle Anderson
The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer-powered organization that builds, maintains, and protects public trails. Together with our partners, we strive to ensure that the trails and natural areas we share are sustainable and accessible for all to enjoy for generations to come.
Our Partners
