Worcester Business Journal

40 Giving Guide 2023 Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com FUTURE GOALS 1. Be seen as leaders in teaching plant- based solutions to climate change through our new Climate Garden and our off-site community greening initiatives. 2. Change from the use of fuel-burning landscape equipment to electric/solar. 3. Encourage staff to serve in leadership roles in professional and community organizations and increase our investment in their professional development. 4. Continue our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility by increasing staff and board training and assessing our progress against a targeted action plan. 5. Expand youth and family program offerings to create future environmental stewards. 6. Engage community groups to create programs based on the intersection of their needs and our mission and resources. 7. Ensure our existing garden hardscape is universally accessible. 8. Expand our marketing efforts to attract new and diverse audiences to both our garden and Central MA through our garden displays and educational programs. FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES Giving Week September 15-22, 2023: Help "Grow the Garden," featuring a $75,000 dollar-for-dollar matching gi challenge, opportunities to win unique Garden experiences, including Night Lights tickets, adult and children's classes, Garden Shop discounts, private picnics, behind-the-scenes tours, and garden dedications. Give online at https://p2p.onecause.com/ growthegarden or in-person at the Garden. Sponsorships are welcomed. Please contact Julia Metzidakis at jmetzidakis@nebg.org GIVING OPPORTUNITIES We send Spring and Winter annual appeals by mail, and online and on-site donations are welcomed year-round. e John Green Society, annual donors of $1,500+ or under 40 years $1,000, is a community of supporters committed to our mission. Members have opportunities to deepen their connection with the Garden and fellow members through unique events. With 11,200 members and 213,726 visitors including 72,000 visitors to Night Lights in December, corporate sponsorship opportunities abound for all art, plant, and lights exhibitions, community outreach programs, as well as signature events. In Worcester, horticulture staff worked with students from the United Way's WooServes program to plant the Franklin Street Median. is community greening project and others have helped beautify downtown spaces while also contributing pollinator resources and other ecological services to the urban environment. Our Get a Tree, Plant a Tree initiative helps restore much-needed tree canopy in environmental justice neighborhoods. Contact Catrin Weimbs cweimbs@nebg. org for sponsorships. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES We seek individuals, corporate, and community groups who want to volunteer for gardening (weeding, planting, deadheading, pruning, raking, and sweeping); participating in youth education Nature Play activities in e Ramble such as music, imaginary play stations, story reading, youth drop- in cra and science activities during special events; as Garden Guides who give conversational tours to guests; Event Greeters; Garden Explainers who answer guest questions while walking the gardens; in the Garden Shop; or during Night Lights. Corporate volunteer groups can donate their time in the gardens working together on gardening group projects or for youth education drop-in activities such as nature cras, and science stations during special events. All volunteers are screened and aer filling out an application, participate in a phone interview, a background check, and orientation. New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill BOARD MEMBERS UlumPixan Athoh'il, Farming Director/ Education Coordinator and member owner, Tuck Away Farm Patricia Bigelow, President, Bigelow Nurseries Greg Brown, Sr., Managing Director, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, Matrix Capital Mgmt. Ashlyn Donohue, Director, Legal, LinkSquares, Inc. Curtis Falzoi, President, Donohue Industries Dr. Abraham Haddad, Periodontist, Handsman & Haddad Periodontics, P.C. (retired) Thomas Halpin, Teacher, West Boylston Public Schools Indira Maini, Guidance Counselor (Retired) Samantha McDonald, Lawyer, Bowditch & Dewey Shiamin Melville, Financial Services and Benefits Management Dennis Murphy III, Treasurer & Sales Associate, Murphy Insurance Agency Elizabeth Myska, Attorney, Elder Law Susan Palatucci, Wellness Counselor, Usana Health Sciences Jean Poteete, Senior Campus Planner, Tufts University Diane Robbins, Development Professional (Retired) Gayle Weiss, Vice President Business Operations Law, Unum (retired) Shirley Williams, Owner, Brigham Hill Farm 11 French Drive Boylston, MA 01505 Phone: (508) 869-6111 nebg.org Full-time Employees: 52 Annual Revenues: $7,117,171 Year founded: 1842 MISSION STATEMENT To create experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world. SERVICE AREA As New England Botanic Garden, we serve the region (Greater Worcester), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and all New England. As a popular botanic garden, we welcome visitors from all over the country and the world. TOP FUNDING SOURCES 55% Admission, Garden Shop sales, Classes, and Events 18% Individual Donors and Foundations 14% Membership Grace C. Elton CEO Kent dur Russell Board President BOARD OFFICERS Kent dur Russell, Former Curator & CEO, Museum of Russian Icons (Retired), President Lisa McDonough, FLEXcon, Vice President Catherine Colinvaux, Lawyer (Retired), Vice President Dr. Jim Karadimos, Podiatrist, Westborough Podiatry, LLC, Vice President Matthew Mattus, Horticulture Author, Vice President Richard Leif, IT Professional (Retired), Secretary Michael Machnowski, Managing Partner, The Berry Group, Treasurer Emily Wood, Principal and Vice President, Grimes & Company, Assistant Treasurer

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