Letter From the President

Dear Friends,

Since its establishment in 1995, the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance has worked to support the revitalization of this historic botanical treasure, and to involve our West Side neighbors in the wonderful changes taking place here. Thanks to your support, the initiatives first conceived by the organization’s founders have begun to bear fruit in exciting and powerful ways.
 
Today, the Garfield Park Conservatory serves hundreds of thousands of visitors through a variety of programs, from school tours that educate children about plant science to hands-on horticulture workshops for backyard and community gardeners. The Conservatory has also presented world-class exhibits such as Dale Chihuly’s breathtaking Garden of Glass, the evocative stone sculptures of Chapungu, and the towering prehistoric creatures of GIANTS: African Dinosaurs.
 
More than a place to appreciate plants and learn about gardening, the Conservatory has also become a catalyst for change in the communities of East and West Garfield Park. As advocates for local interests, we are working to unite residents and other stakeholders around community and economic development efforts occurring in these neighborhoods.
 
The Conservatory is fulfilling its mission in so many ways – enriching the lives of Chicagoans through a variety of programs that promote independent learning, environmental awareness and cultural expression – but we have only begun to tap the potential of this extraordinary place.
 
A project of this magnitude takes a significant commitment on the part of the Alliance, the Chicago Park District, and the Chicago community. I hope you will join us in this effort by making a donation to our annual fund. Your gift to the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance will ensure our ability to create exciting programs, aid in community development, and sustain a first-class botanical conservatory for all of Chicago to enjoy.

Thank You for Your Support!

Eunita Rushing

President

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance