Your Gifts at Work: Growing Programs, Gardens, and Community
Nonprofits are the cornerstones of communities, offering essential and specialized services and spaces. They are sustained through the generosity of the very communities they champion. It is through individuals’ passion and their time (volunteering), talent (resource sharing), and treasure (donations) that they invest in sustaining these community gems.
The role of philanthropy is to create spaces for people to invest. This takes on many forms as different people need different opportunities to give. Some want to give with the click of a button, others by mail, and some in person, which is why Bloedel Reserve holds its annual fundraiser, the Garden Party, each summer.
On August 7th, Bloedel Reserve held its 19th Garden Party. The afternoon started with delicious hors d’oeuvres from over twenty of the best local restaurants. We were honored to have so many local restaurants and wineries standing with us this year. Over desserts, there was an auction and a chance to make a donation. This year, speakers included some of the leading horticultural minds of the region Daniel Hinkley, Evan Meyer, and Sue Nevler.
It was a joy to see so many of our donors and supporters mingling, celebrating, and investing in the landscapes and programs of Bloedel Reserve. The funds raised are critical to ongoing work, such as:
- Access, regardless of income, with pay-what-you-wish admission days and Museums for All, which has doubled in use over the last year.
- Nature and Well-Being Programs, including our Grief Groups and Strolls for Well-Being, offered at no cost to participants.
- Paid internships for aspiring horticulturists. We had 80 applications in 2025 and were able to select an amazing group of 4.
- Funded creative residencies. With the desire to participate steadily growing, there were 300 applicants for this year’s cohort.
- And, most critically, support for our flourishing gardens and landscapes—all of which host and make possible our programs and walks.
Donations over the course of the year are important and have a meaningful impact. It is special to have a day carved out for our annual fundraiser, where people can gather and invest back into the gardens, together. We are all humbled and grateful for the support around the Graden Party and beyond! Thank you all!
A special thank you to the volunteers and staff, event co-chairs Erin Banasik and Jane Carlin, our board of directors, Senior Advisory Council, and sponsors. Without this amazing team, the Garden Party would not be possible.
–Written by Madeline Read, Director of Development
Photos by Abby Wyatt Images
