• Home
  • News
  • Party “Fund-A-Need” Raises $57K for Volunteer Program

Party “Fund-A-Need” Raises $57K for Volunteer Program

A guest participating in this year's silent auction at the Opening Night Party.

A guest participating in this year’s silent auction at the Opening Night Party.

The “Fund-A-Need” portion of this year’s Opening Night Party & Auction on February 10 raised an unprecedented amount of money in support of the Foundation’s volunteer program—over $57,000, nearly doubling last year’s “Fund-A-Need” total. In the days prior to the party, Foundation staff and board members reached out to potential donors to see if they would agree to honor a particular Arboretum volunteer with a gift of $1,000 or more—and the response was wonderful. Klaus and Marcia Zech got the ball rolling with a very generous $26,000 matching gift in honor of Dr. John Wott. Pat and Marcus Meier added their own generous matching gift of $5,000.

On the evening of the party, Ann Pigott Wyckoff, as well as Sherrey and Doug Luetjen, gave in honor of Iris Wagner. Chris and Meg Harry, and Mary Joan Hervey, gave in honor of the late Dave Hervey. Skip Vonckx gave in honor of Bob Lilly and Phil Wood. Carolyn Kitchell gave in honor of Sherrey Luetjen. Allan Ferrin gave in honor of Skip Vonckx. Jim Reid and Richard Smith gave in honor of Mayor Ed Murray and Michael Shiosaki. AHBL Landscape Architecture gave in honor of Jason Morse. Kathleen Pierce gave in honor of Rhonda Bush. Lenore Cote gave in honor of Jim Reid. Meri Nelson gave in honor of Lynn Garvey. A huge thanks to all our donors!