Donations will keep Pump House Music Works rocking

The operation couldn’t sustain itself much longer, and he considered canceling summer shows while also being uncertain if the doors could stay open.

“We received several generous donations, including one from the Maya L. Auchincloss Revocable Living Trust, which significantly contributed to our success,” he explained recently about the turn of financial fortunes — at least for this year — for the venue.

Auchincloss, who died last year, is a cousin of the late First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

The Auchincloss donation, which he would not disclose, came after a trustee read a March story in The Independent and The Narragansett Times about the financial struggles, he said.

“The GoFundMe Campaign was also key,” Collins said. “We had over 100 donors and raised over $30,000. I’m just blown away by that. Many of our favorite local bands helped us out by donating all of their proceeds.”

Last November, the Pump House Music Works had its annual fundraiser and brought in about $15,000, he said. Most of that money was used, however, when the next month its liability insurance carrier left the business, and a new — and more expensive — carrier was necessary to meet a deadline for town renewal of operating licenses.

“It isn’t just a big problem we had with a tremendous increase in our liquor liability insurance; it’s a lot of the circumstances over the past four years for various loans we’ve needed since COVID, too,” Collins said in March.

Though the words paint a picture of struggle and the risk of losing a beloved venue, Collins also expressed hope that the community’s love for the arts can help overcome these hardships.

Yet, in every setback, there is a quiet resilience and a steadfast belief in the power of music and community to heal, unite, and inspire a brighter future.

This stone building, with its center stage, bar, kitchen, and renovated parlor room, hosts a wide range of performers from various music genres. Folk, alternative rock, funk, reggae, jazz, blues, and open mic performances have graced the stage, allowing local musicians to refine their skills or show off their talents.

Without the cash, this one-of-a-kind South County venue might close, Collins said, yet another potential show-stopper after a fire a few years ago.

Now all that has been put aside — at least for the moment.

“To honor this (Maya L. Auchincloss Trust) contribution, we will organize an animal benefit in memory of Maya Auchincloss, as animals were her first passion,” he said.

Born in February 1959, Maya L. Auchincloss emerged from one of New England’s most prominent families. She was the daughter of Hugh Dudley “Yusha” Auchincloss III (1927–2015), a fixture of Newport’s old-money circles, and shared a twin bond with her sister, Cecil Lyon Auchincloss.

Her lineage extended beyond local legacy; she was a cousin by marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and connected to the literary Vidal family, further underscoring the reach of the Auchincloss name.

Raised in the heart of Newport, Rhode Island, Maya embodied the traditions of the city’s storied elite while also forging her own path.

Friends and associates remember her as smart, witty, and unpretentious — a woman who, despite her social standing, maintained an approachable warmth. Her love for Golden Retrievers became something of a signature, reflecting her easygoing nature and love of animals.

Following her passing in 2024 at the age of 65, Maya’s legacy continued through the Maya L. Auchincloss Revocable Living Trust, which directed her estate toward local and cultural philanthropy.

One of her most notable gifts supported the Newport Historical Society’s upcoming 2025 exhibition, “Newport 1775: Whose Side Are You On?,” a show exploring the city’s revolutionary past. The exhibition grant exemplified her passion for local history and education.

Her Trust also provided a $25,000 grant to help establish a youth skateboarding program — an initiative that surprised some who knew her only through her Newport social ties.

Additionally, she made a significant donation to the nonprofit Encyclopedia of Surfing, an organization dedicated to preserving Rhode Island’s surf history, proving her interest in documenting both the cultural and recreational heritage of her home state.

The Pump House has a strong following, with scores of supporters contributing to the cash flow needed for Collins to keep the doors open for the summer.

“It’s really people doing what they can. People are really spread thin these days,” Collins added. In an effort to augment this fund drive, he said that he may seek out benefactors who have a warm heart for the arts and sustaining non-profits and will check on grants to help support the venue.

“Artists need a venue like Pump House because it encourages an artistic approach to music, not just for well-known players, but also for up-and-coming ones,” once remarked Dan Moretti, who has hosted a monthly jazz series at the venue for over seven years, attracting talent from the Northeast.

Matt Fraza, a multi-talented stage actor and musician, said in a 2023 interview, “The biggest thing is to play for an audience, and the Pump House gives people a chance to see if the audience likes what they are doing or if they need to go back to the drawing board.”