The Richmond Rose Garden honored our dedicated volunteers at the November 20th Volunteer Appreciation Reception at Forest Hills Country Club. There were 55 volunteers in attendance! This year our volunteers clocked over 3000 volunteer hours. Throughout the event we recognized each volunteer and their years of service.
We also presented 3 special awards given for 2024 -Volunteer of the Year, Friend of the Garden, and Board Member of the Year. We capped off the evening recognizing a special outgoing board member, Beth Van Der Burgt. The awards presented at the event were all photos taken during our 2024 photo contest.
The Volunteer of the Year Award is given annually to a current volunteer who provides significant enthusiasm and outstanding contribution to the Rose Garden through volunteer service. The individual supports and upholds the mission of the Richmond Rose Garden and is consistently available and reliable.
2022 Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Kathy Jones!
The Volunteer of the Year Award is given annually to a current volunteer who provides significant enthusiasm and outstanding contribution to the Rose Garden through volunteer service. The individual supports and upholds the mission of the Richmond Rose Garden and is consistently available and reliable. We would like to present our 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award to Kathy Jones. Kathy has worked tirelessly at the Rose Garden for three years. She works not only in her bed “I,” but has also helped tremendously in Bed D. Kathy didn’t hesitate when I asked her to come early to the work days and help set up for other volunteers. She never complains when asked to learn new jobs, such as laying bricks along the edges of the beds to help prevent compost erosion. She even “volunteered” her grandson, Jackson and his friend, Kenny, to haul the heavy bricks for us to the beds. Those strong arms of young men were appreciated. She has also served on the Volunteer Committee for the past year. Thank you Kathy Jones!
2024 Friend of the Garden Award
The Friend of the Garden Award is given to an individual, family, business or corporation that is a current supporter of the Richmond Rose Garden that has given observable or measurable support to the Richmond Rose Garden.
2024 Friend of the Garden Award goes to Darla Bailey and Liz Sneed.
Darla is a Richmond native, who lived her adult life in Louisville, KY. Darla contacted our organization in the spring about a way to honor her parents, who loved the Rose Garden and the Richmond Symphony. Together, both organizations worked to host one of the symphony’s summer series events. Through Darla’s and Liz’s foundation, the Dalizo Charitable Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of Renaissance Charitable Foundation, they sponsored the two new tree benches we were able to purchase and add to the garden. They continue to be interested in the success of the garden and are willing to help financially to get projects done. They also support projects in a new botanical garden in Louisville. We are glad they are so invested in Richmond!
2024 Board Member of the Year
The Board Member of the Year Award is given to a current board member who demonstrates a continued interest in and support of the Richmond Rose Garden through the contribution of time, talent, and/or resources. The board member is an advocate for our organization in the community, has good attendance to board meetings & committee members, and follows all board member responsibilities.
2024 Board Member of the Year Award goes to Ann Herrman
Ann has been the chairperson of our annual fundraising event, First Bloom and Glow, since its inception in 2013. That means for over a decade Ann has organized the balloons, caterers, port-a-lets, police presence, parking lot attendants, ticket distribution, sign making and sponsors for this event that allows the Rose Garden to have a healthy annual budget. Every year, except one, the profit has increased. Ann has lots of help. Many volunteers have assisted with this event that draws so many people in from all parts of the community. It has become something to look forward to for Richmond families, and something all of us involved with the Rose Garden appreciate. Thanks, Ann, for working so tirelessly for the community and the garden.
Honoring Outgoing Board Member, Beth Van Der Burgt
We want to thank our outgoing board member, Beth Van Der Burgt. Beth has been involved with the Rose Garden board for 14 years. 11 of those as president. She is well connected in the non-profit world and those connections have helped the garden tremendously. Beth has worked tirelessly on raising funds for the garden. She has served on the development Committee, finance, special events, bloom&glow, marketing, governance, and executive committees. She has written numerous grants over the years, allowing the garden to purchase or repair essential structures in the garden. The walkways, for instance! Beth also started tracking the number of visitors in the garden, keeps up with rose identification, and along with her husband, Marty, repairs the irrigation system. Beth also gave up her time to complete the training to become a consulting rosarian. We haven’t even mentioned the countless hours she has spent in her assigned rose garden bed making it beautiful all of these years.
Beth has been “the face of the garden” for many years. In many ways she has made it what it is today. Please help us in thanking Beth for the many years of service to the Richmond Rose Garden.
