Thank You, Duke Gardens Annual Fund Supporters!

Thank you for supporting the Duke Gardens Annual Fund during the 2015-2016 fiscal year!  More than 1,800 alumni, parents, students and friends gave over $600,000 this past year, another record for us. Our Annual Fund’s steady growth over the years confirms that Duke Gardens is and will continue to be an integral part of the Duke experience.

As “your garden,” we continue to grow and thrive thanks to your generosity. Here are a few examples of how your Annual Fund support helped Duke Gardens give back:

       - Hosted more than 30 Duke events, including undergraduate classes, alumni events and concerts for students.

       - Connected with Duke & local communities through a series of free educational and member events.

       - Supported Durham families in need with almost 2,000 lbs. of fresh produce grown in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden and given to local charities for distribution.

       - Brought innovative educational adventures to Durham schoolchildren through our expanding outreach programs.

Each gift to Duke Gardens’ Annual Fund, no matter the size, makes an impact not only at Duke but also in the Durham community.  Duke Gardens is incredibly beautiful, and its inspirational landscape is part of what makes Duke unique.  Thank you for joining me in supporting the Sarah P. Duke Gardens Annual Fund and recognizing the many ways we add immeasurable depth and value to the Duke experience.

Bill LeFevre
Executive Director
Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Instagram Photo Contest: #dukegardensstudents

We're thrilled with the response to our first Instagram-Facebook photo contest (#dukegardenscolorpop), so we're doing a second one!

This time we're looking for photos of Duke students in Duke Gardens -- and among the prizes will be a $50 iTunes gift card (see details below). Your photograph can be recent or from past years.

Entering this contest is a little different from past contests, so please read the "How to Enter" instructions carefully.

Here's the scoop:

HOW TO ENTER: Tag your Instagram photos with #dukegardensstudents. Please only tag three photos with #dukegardensstudents, as participants are limited to three entries. Outside of the contest, we welcome #dukegardens tags at any time, and #dukespring tags this season. We will search for the #dukegardensstudents hashtag, and upload your photos into an album on Facebook, with your Instagram name in the photo description. You may then add more information about the photo in the comments if you like, and encourage your friends to come see it and vote by clicking "like." Only "like" votes on the album photos will count in vote tallies, though (polite) comments are welcome, too. We'll also tally "likes" on the Instagram photos.

Please be sure to see our etiquette page before posting, as we will not include photos of people climbing trees, playing sports, roaming off the paths or engaging in other activities that are not permitted in the Gardens.

DEADLINE: Photos must be submitted by noon Tuesday, April 28. Voting will end at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 30.

HOW TO VOTE: It's simple. Just "like" your favorite contest photos, both in Instagram and on Facebook. You can find us @sarahpdukegardens in Instagram. On Facebook, we're at facebook.com/dukegardens.

PRIZES: We'll have prizes for most "like" votes on Facebook and on Instagram, as well as judges' awards. Prizes will include Terrace Shop discount coupons, Duke Gardens note cards, the Duke Gardens souvenir photo book and other Duke Gardens-related gifts. We'll also have an extra prize -- a $50 iTunes gift card -- for the best Gardens photo featuring a Duke student or students dressed in Duke-branded clothing.
 
SHARE: Even if you're not interested in prizes or contests, we'd love for you to share your photos just for fun, and share our contest photo album with your own Facebook friends. We look forward to seeing your favorites.

ELIGIBILITY: Anyone of any age may share Duke Gardens photos in this contest. The only people not eligible to win a prize are Duke Gardens employees. In entering this contest, you are confirming that you are the person who took the photograph and that the person in the photo has granted permission for it to be shared online.

NOTE: This contest is not administered, endorsed or operated by Facebook.

LEARN MORE: Please check out our education and event listings for photo courses that you may enjoy. We also have a Nature Photography Certificate program that may interest you.