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

Give the Gift of Duke Gardens!

By Sarah Leach Smith

 

There’s no denying the cooler temperatures and the falling leaves – the winter holidays are approaching. For many people, it’s a stressful time of year. What will I bring to the meal/give as a gift/wear to the party? Here at Duke Gardens, we may not be able to answer ALL of your questions, but we can certainly help with a few of these things.

Have you ever considered the gift of a Friends of Duke Gardens membership? It’s a wonderful idea for people who live in Durham or the surrounding areas. Because Duke Gardens is free for all visitors, more than half of our yearly operating budget comes from our members, who value all that this botanic garden has to offer.

 

Membership not only supports the future of Duke Gardens, but it also comes with great benefits for members. All membership levels include discounts for education programs and gift shop purchases, invitations to specials Friends of Duke Gardens events, reciprocal admission to nearly 300 gardens in North America and a copy of our annual Friends publication Flora.

To supplement the gift of membership, consider a special Duke Gardens souvenir item! In the Terrace Shop, we have a beautiful assortment of Duke Gardens books, mugs, T-shirts and 2016 calendars. We also have unique items handmade by the Garden Guild, a group of very crafty Gardens volunteers. Stay tuned for more information about these items.

If you’d like to give a gift of a Friends of Duke Gardens membership, please give us a call. Development Assistant Millicent Snow would love to hear from you and may be reached at 919-668-1711.

Happy Holidays!