Constitution & Cocktails
September 17, 2026 | 6 PM — 8:30 pm
Our annual fundraiser is back!
2026 Honorees: Jason Antos and Edjo Wheeler
Join Us For An Evening of History, Democracy, & Community Spirit!
At King Manor Museum, we make that celebration real every September 17th, right here in the historic home of Founding Father Rufus King. And this year, we invite you to raise a glass with us as we honor the constitutional principles and antislavery advocacy that shaped our nation.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening where 18th-century history meets 21st-century community spirit!
September 17, 2026 • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
At our annual Constitution & Cocktails, you'll experience something extraordinary. You'll walk through the same rooms where Rufus King, framer and signer of the Constitution, U.S. Senator, and passionate antislavery advocate, once entertained guests and debated the future of American democracy. While celebrating, you’ll be supporting over 7,000 schoolchildren that we welcome annually for educational programming that connects constitutional history to real world civic engagement.
Who We're Celebrating This Year
Jason Antos - Queens Historical Society President and Borough Historian.
Edjo Wheeler - Founder & Executive Director, Culture Lab LIC.
These aren't just accomplished professionals, they are community builders who understand that preserving history means actively working for a more just future.
With two hours of open bar, live music, hors d'oeuvres, exclusive access to new exhibitions, guided museum tours, an artist talk, and a special viewing of newly acquired works from the collection, Constitution & Cocktails promises to be an evening to remember. Join us as we celebrate not only our shared constitutional heritage, but also our collective commitment to building "a more perfect union."
Your support helps us welcome thousands of students each year and, with upcoming restorations in 2027, will help us bring museum programming into schools and senior centers across the city.
VIP Ticket Special
As our thanks for you giving a little extra to support our mission, you’ll get a special piece of King Manor swag!
All proceeds will go to benefit King Manor's educational programming, including school programs, family craft days, professional development for educators, community festivals, public workshops, and more.
About our Honorees
JASON ANTOS
BOROUGH HISTORIAN
Jason D. Antos is a lifelong Queens resident who has lived in Whitestone for more than four decades. His mother Wendy is from Brooklyn and his late father Spyros was an immigrant from Greece who came to America in the 1960s. His maternal great-grandparents came to New York City from Russia in 1912 and lived in Manhattan's Lower East Side. His grandparents were born there in 1913 near the corner of Broome and Allen Streets. In 2006, Jason received an MFA in Communications from the University of Miami. For 11 years, he worked as a reporter for the Queens Gazette in Astoria and was a member of the New York Press Corps. He also worked a few years as a Community Liaison for the NY State Assembly. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Queens Historical Society at Kingsland Homestead, a role he has held since 2021. He is the author of eight books on the history of Queens including the first historical work ever published about Shea Stadium in 2007 and his recent book, Images of America: Woodside-Sunnyside was released this past July. Jason has chronicled and helped preserve Queens history since high school. In September of 2025, he was appointed as the Official Queens Borough Historian by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
EDJO WHEELER
Founder/Executive Director, Culture Lab LIC
Edjo Wheeler is a visionary arts leader, curator, and producer dedicated to building vibrant, sustainable ecosystems where art and community intersect. As the Founder and Executive Director of Culture Lab LIC, Edjo has transformed the Queens cultural landscape, overseeing one of the borough’s largest independent arts institutions. His leadership is defined by an unwavering commitment to accessibility; perhaps most notably, he transformed an empty parking lot into a bustling outdoor cultural hub during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the arts remained a vital, beating heart of the city when it was needed most.
Edjo’s career is as multidisciplinary as the institutions he builds. A former martial arts champion and stunt coordinator, his background in high-stakes live performance informs his approach to curating immersive, large-scale public art and theater. With a portfolio spanning over 100 films, television shows, and stage productions—and an extensive history as an educator at institutions like NYU Tisch—Edjo brings a rare, "boots-on-the-ground" expertise to arts administration. From managing multi-million dollar capital projects to launching residency programs that support hundreds of artists annually, Edjo Wheeler continues to champion the belief that when you provide artists with the space and resources to thrive, you create a more connected and resilient community.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsoring Constitution & Cocktails at King Manor Museum is good business!
At the $500 level or higher, your company’s name and logo will be featured on our website, flyers, social media, and monthly e-newsletters, consistently placing your brand in front of the museum’s combined in-person and online audiences of 30,000. And, because we partner with several community organizations throughout Southeast Queens, you’ll reach thousands more through King Manor’s participation in community events, fairs, and other celebrations.
Best of all, at any sponsorship level your brand will be synonymous with King Manor’s mission to teach critical thinking for a healthier democracy. With your support we are able to provide free, quality, and accessible educational programming to a low-income community, offer career training and mentorships for students and young professionals, and create an inclusive space for our diverse audiences to explore history, social justice, and civics.
We thank you for your consideration of sponsoring civic engagement and humanities education in Southeast Queens, and look forward to welcoming you to our King Manor family!
7th grade students participate in a special workshop with local paper artist Rejin Leys as they learn about the historic process of making cotton paper.
Ready to align your business with the only museum in Southeast Queens? You can sign up as a sponsor here or mail checks to King Manor Museum, 90-04 161st St, STE 704, Jamaica NY 11432. Prefer to pay over the phone? Call us at 718-206-0545
For more information on sponsorship opportunities please contact us at
director@kingmanor.org
(718) 206-0545
