Gwendolyn van Paasschen is a garden designer and writer and is involved in various non-profits. She is currently working on a major new initiative to perpetuate the legacy of internationally renowned British garden designer, John Brookes MBE having established a trust dedicated to the perpetuation of his design legacy and the renovation and preservation of his garden in West Sussex.  Ms. van Paasschen is also a trustee on the American Trust for the British Library Board of Trustees. She is the former president of Kids Empowered by Your Support (KEYS), a Connecticut-based nonprofit which provides free music lessons to underserved children in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She began her career as a US Senate legislative staffer on economic issues for Senators Slade Gordon and the late Senator John McCain.