Named Funds

Ken and Deena Altman, owners of Altman Plants, began their love of the industry in 1975 with what started out as an innocent hobby. With an avid interest in plants, their business slowly transformed itself into a wholesale nursery business encompassing over 1700 acres in six states. Today, Altman Plants supplies exciting plant programs to large retailers with point of purchase materials, sales reps to assist with merchandising, a large distribution system that covers the United States, and offers expertise in growing plants from cactus to herbs, from grasses to perennials, and more. The Altman’s are highly appreciative of the field of horticulture and enjoy giving back. They have established the Center for Applied Horticultural Research as an effort to help the industry and they support numerous efforts to improve education and research for the industry. The Altman Family Scholarship is for full-time M.S. or Ph.D. students in floriculture or horticulture with a career goal in becoming a leading floriculture scientist, marketer and/or educator.

Ball Horticultural Company is an internationally renowned breeder, producer and wholesale distributor of ornamental plants. A family-owned business since it was founded in 1905, Ball has introduced many innovative, award-winning varieties to the world of horticulture, including the Wave® petunia family and Super Elfin® impatiens. Ball is committed to sustainable practices and has highlighted its green accomplishments in its “Sustainability Report.” The company has worldwide production, sales and marketing through its many subsidiaries on six continents. The Ball Horticultural Company scholarship is intended for junior or senior students pursuing a career in commercial floriculture.

For more than 20 years, BioWorks has been helping customers in the horticulture, specialty agriculture, and turf markets. The focus of BioWorks has consistently been on providing environmentally-responsible, safe and effective products and programs for managing plant diseases, pests and nutrition – and on providing knowledge and leadership to their distribution partners and growers. BioWorks also has a scholarship fund through AFE that awards students with $1,000 per year.

Blackmore Company is a producer and distributor of horticulture supplies and equipment. Founded by Fred Blackmore Sr. in 1966 and currently managed by his son Skip and his grandson Scott, they have been able to celebrate 50 years in business due to the support of their loyal customers and the help of their dedicated employees – several of which have worked for the company for over 30 years.

The Carlstedt’s LLC Fund, originally established in 2016, has been re-established to promote the floriculture industry through unrestricted funds for the Endowment. This fund was established with Carlstedt’s operates in 13 southeast locations. They currently run 70 delivery vehicles and have 150 team members. Carlstedt’s provides services such as VIP systems with capabilities from online ordering, invoicing, and photo archiving to networking with fellow florists, freelancers and DIYers. Carlstedt’s services clients all over the world through Flowergeneral.com, which is an online Floral Mall where you can find anything in flowers from arrangements to box lots. Flowergeneral.com handles logistics, payment methods and in store pickups.

The Ecke Family has been a longtime supporter of AFE and is a strong believer in developing the floral industry. Paul Ecke III was recognized at the 2013 Endowment fundraising dinner as a representative for the family. The Ecke is an iconic industry name, and for generations the Ecke family has participated in and supported AFE activities and helped advance the floral industry. The Ecke name is synonymous with the modern day poinsettia, as three generations of Ecke’s developed and promoted poinsettias worldwide. Since 1976, the Ecke family has contributed more than $300,000 to AFE and continues to support the Paul Ecke Jr. Scholarship Fund. Ecke Ranch promises “to provide the beauty and color of flowering plants through quality, innovative horticultural products.”

Egon Molbak was born in Denmark and was educated in the greenhouse/floral industry. He graduated from Odense Technical School in 1945. He was chosen in 1948, through the Scandinavian American Foundation, to spend a year in the U.S. to further his knowledge in the floral industry.

After returning home in 1949, Egon enthusiastically persuaded his then-fiancé Laina to move to the U.S. with him. They got married in 1950 and had their honeymoon in the U.S., where they eventually settled down and started their own business.

In 1956, the Molbaks purchased five small, glass greenhouses in a rural area outside Seattle. The greenhouses were initially used for carnations and chrysanthemums, but they soon switched from cut flowers to potted plants, specifically mums and bedding plants.

Laina started the retail business that is now known as Molbak’s Garden + Home, a premier indoor and outdoor center in Woodinville, Washington.

It is now owned by the couple’s son Jens and attracts more than one million visitors each year. It is known for its relaxing cafe and wide selection of plants and gifts, and is a host employer for AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program.

The second-largest fund in AFE’s history, the FTD Fund goes a long way in supporting the industry when it needs it most. Tom Moeller, Executive Vice President of FTD, Inc., was recognized at the 2013 Annual Fundraising Dinner for FTD’s generous contribution to AFE. One of the largest floral companies in the world, FTD supports their floral network through an innovative spirit, comprehensive education and a commitment to raising the awareness of giving flowers. For more than 100 years, FTD has stood for trust, creativity and worldwide floral delivery. FTD was founded in 1910 in Downers Grove, Ill. as the world’s first flowers-by-wire service, and was originally named “Florists’ Telegraph Delivery.” Five years later, the company began international transactions and the name soon changed to “Florists Transworld Delivery” as a result. In 1914, FTD adopted the Mercury figure as its logo, which has became well known in the industry as the FTD symbol. Over the past century, FTD has grown to have a network of approximately 45,000 florists in 154 countries, including some 16,000 retail florists in North America who can deliver products to nearly 100 percent of the U.S. population.

Founded in 1887 by the Society of American Florists (SAF), Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits is a mutual company dedicated solely to the floral and horticultural industry. It is a proven partner for the industry, providing insurance and employee benefit solutions. Hortica is proud to support the educational and research initiatives of AFE. Hortica has been an active supporter of AFE since its inception. Prior to AFE and SAF joining resources, AFE relocated its offices to Hortica’s headquarters in Edwardsville, Illinois. Hortica managed AFE’s administrative functions for four years during a period of AFE’s restructuring and growth.

Mellano & Company has been a supporter of AFE dating back to 1978. Mike Mellano, Batista Castellano and others were recognized for the company’s substantial contributions to the industry and their support of AFE at the 2013 Endowment fundraising dinner. Mellano & Company is a leading cut flower grower, shipper and wholesaler that started when Giovanni Mellano set up shop in 1925 as a wholesale distributor. Now in its third generation, Mellano & Company has been plowing ahead in floriculture ever since and is headquartered in its Los Angeles Flower Market location where Giovanni first began. The growing operation was relocated in 1970 to sunny San Diego County in the San Luis Rey Valley. Mellano & Company prides itself on its progressive ideas, many of which have been developed into industry-wide improvements in growing and logistics. Now with more than 80 years of experience in the industry and still plowing ahead, Mellano & Company attributes its success as a true family business to time honored tradition, extraordinary innovation and a whole lot of elbow grease.

The Godfrey family of Olive Hill Greenhouses, strong supporters of AFE, established a named fund within the Endowment in 2013 to ensure critical industry needs could be addressed as necessary. Olive Hill Greenhouses started in 1973 in Fallbrook, Calif., as Tony and Sue Godfrey’s part time venture and has since grown into one of the largest interior plant producers in the state, with production facilities spanning 760,000 square feet. Every week Olive Hill trucks deliver plants all over Southern California and ship plants via common carrier to other areas. Since its inception, Olive Hill has set high standards and has become known for quality, consistent supply of plants and customer service. In 2000, Olive Hill Greenhouses became a second generation business with Tony & Sue’s daughter Denise joining the sales team. Olive Hill sets quality standards high and has the support of excellent customers who appreciate the quality plants and fantastic employees who have sought to implement Tony’s original vision for the company.

The Pérez Villegas Family, based in Medellín, Colombia, cherishes the floral industry for its ability to inspire joy and foster opportunities for growth.

By investing in research, education, and tools for developing aspiring professionals, they are planting the seeds for a prosperous future. Through deep gratitude and commitment, the Pérez Villegas Family Fund supports the American Floral Endowment in its vital endeavors, nurturing this fascinating industry’s growth and continued success.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company was established in 1868 is the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products.  The company is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to express themselves on their own piece of the Earth. In the U.S., Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho®, and Tomcat® brands are market leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts. Outside of North America, the Company has various popular brands, including Miracle-Gro®, Evergreen®, KB®, Fertiligene®, Celaflor® and Substral®. Scotts Miracle-Gro has been a supporter of AFE since 1983.

The Smithers-Oasis Fund has been established to promote the floriculture industry by providing support to AFE through unrestricted funds. Smithers-Oasis is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of products for the floriculture industry, sold under the company’s three brands: Oasis Floral Products, Floralife Postharvest Products, and Oasis Grower Solutions. The company provides solution-based products and services to the industry from propagation to home through growing media for the greenhouse grower; postharvest care and handling of cut flowers and potted plants; and floral foam products, wedding accessories, adhesives, tapes, decorative wires, and other specialty products for floral designers. Smithers-Oasis is dedicated to advancing the art and science of floriculture worldwide and is committed to having a positive impact on its employees, customers, communities, and the floriculture industry.

John and Janet Kister of Sunlet Nursery have contributed to the Endowment for years, and their pledge establishing an undesignated named fund also allows AFE to address the most pressing industry issues. John and Janet Kister established Sunlet Nursery, Inc. in 1985 on the premise of offering more unusual flowering plants than were typically available. Located on 25 acres in the rolling hills of Fallbrook, Calif., they make use of the ideal, Mediterranean-like climate to produce a consistent, high-quality product. Sunlet Nursery currently supplies independent garden centers, wholesale florists and supermarkets across the U.S. with an eclectic mix of flowering and foliage plants.

The Tagawa family started in 1967 with Frank Tagawa and his five sons producing vegetable transplants for their truck farming operations. Today, the family has three main companies – Tagawa Greenhouses, Tagawa Gardens and Ball Tagawa Growers. The Tagawa family recognizes the importance of giving back to the industry and staying involved.

Teleflora and owners Stewart and Lynda Resnick made a $1 million pledge to AFE that was presented at the AFE Annual Fundraising Dinner in 2012. This fund is the largest in AFE’s history and provides assistance for the industry’s most critical needs.

Stewart and Lynda Resnick acquired Teleflora in 1979, and Teleflora has been supporting the Endowment with yearly contributions ever since.  Headquartered in Los Angeles, Teleflora is a clearinghouse for transmitting and processing floral orders to customers throughout the U.S. and internationally. Teleflora was formerly known as Telegraph Delivery Service and was founded in 1934 by Edwin S. Douglas. Privately owned since 1979 by Lynda and Stewart Resnick, the company has 3,000 employees worldwide in 20 countries. With approximately 19,000 member florists throughout the U.S. and Canada, it is the largest privately held floral wire service company in the world.

The Pennock Company was founded in 1882 and is a premier wholesaler serving the Eastern Seaboard with a full selection of cut flowers, floral containers and supplies and specialty items. Today, the Pennock Company continues to grow, with more than 200 associates in eight locations. Pennock sells exclusively to retail florists and outlets and has been a proud AFE supporter since the mid-1970s.

Born in Germany in 1942, Peter Ullrich moved to the United States in 1962 and was Chairman of Esmeralda Farms. He was one of the first growers to establish a presence in Latin America, and foresee the possibilities of its favorable climate in which he could grow flowers on a year-round basis. Esmeralda Farms is a market leader in the floral industry committed to breeding, growing and distributing the highest quality fresh cut flowers. Based in Miami, Esmeralda is dedicated to the sales, marketing and distribution of its flowers and only sells flowers grown by its own operated farms in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to allow for the strictest standards of quality assurance and consistency. Peter Ullrich and Esmeralda Farms have been proud supporters of AFE since 2000. Peter passed away on June 29, 2016.

The Tom Butler Family Fund was established in 2014 to provide general undesignated funds to the American Floral Endowment (AFE). Tom was a renowned industry leader and served as Chairman of AFE from 2010-2012. He continued his dedication to AFE by serving as AFE development chairman and emeritus trustee until he passed away on Aug. 14, 2014. Born in Detroit, Tom began his distinguished career in the industry more than 44 years ago. After holding multiple prestigious industry positions, he joined American Floral Services (AFS) as President and CEO in 1985 and in 2000 led the company’s successful merger with Teleflora, creating the world’s largest flowers-by-wire company. In his role as Teleflora Chairman, Tom guided Teleflora as a trusted business partner, national marketer and technology innovator for independent retail florists. In addition to serving as World President of Teleflora International, he was a member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and Professional Floral Communicators-International (PFCI). He was a past board member for the Society of American Florists (SAF) and was inducted into the SAF Hall of Fame in 2012 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to advancing floriculture in America. Tom was a member of numerous national and state floral associations and has received countless awards recognizing his exceptional dedication to the industry. He and his wife, Becky, resided in Salt Lake City and were frequent visitors to his daughter Amy and her family in Dallas.

The Yoshimi and Grace Shibata Family Fund was established to honor the late flower grower and wholesale florist Yoshimi “Shimi” Shibata and his wife Grace. Founded by a generous contribution from the Shibata family, this named fund honors the lifetime legacy of Shimi and Grace and their accomplishments in the floral industry. Shimi was a past president of the Mt. Eden Floral Company based in San Jose, Calif. The renowned floral industry leader led the company for more than 55 years. Other related companies owned and operated by Shimi are GM Floral Co and the California–Florida Plant Co, which was a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation of Japan. Shimi had many leadership roles throughout the industry. To name a few, he served on the AFE Board of Trustees, as well as on the boards and executive committees of the Society of American Florists (SAF), Wholesale Florist and Florist Suppliers Association (WF&FSA), Roses Inc. and the California State Floral Association. He was elected president of WF&FSA in 1972, and in 1976 he was inducted into SAF’s Hall of Fame. In 2015, the California Association of Flower Growers and Shippers (CalFlowers) awarded him with the 2015 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his leadership, strategic thinking and contributions to the floral industry in California. Shimi married Grace in 1947 and they had three children — Naomi, Robert and Michael. Shimi passed away on Oct. 31, 2015. He was 100 years old. Click here for a video documenting Yoshimi Shibata’s floral industry accomplishments and family life. A second video was created in 2016 about Shini and Grace and why the family established the Yoshimi and Grace Shibata Fund.

The Original Los Angeles Flower Market was established in 1921 and is now part of the largest wholesale flower district in the United States. Scholarship recipients are juniors or seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, majoring in agriculture with an emphasis on a future in floriculture. The American Florists’ Exchange Scholarship provides tuition assistance to students attending a college or university in California or student residents of California attending a college or university in other areas of the United States.

A new travel grant was established for retail florists in Arizona to pursue floral industry educational or design events. The grant assists Arizona florists in traveling to national industry events for educational programs and to provide networking opportunities on a national level. Each year, one recipient will be selected by AFE’s Education Committee to receive the travel grant of up to $1,000 to help cover the cost of attending an out-of-state industry educational event. The grant is open to owners, managers and employees of traditional retail florists with a brick and mortar storefront in Arizona. The application deadline is October 1 each year (for travel in the following year).

Julio “Toots” Armellini was the founder of Armellini Express Lines, the largest flower carrier service in the United States. Armellini enlisted in the Navy as a “Seabee” and was stationed all around the globe as a mechanic. He used the skills he gained as a mechanic to modernize refrigerated trucking. When he began expanding his lines in the early 1950s, refrigeration was new and underdeveloped, so he established a more effective way of cooling his supplies using a system of constant airflow. ThermoKing eventually made his contributions to refrigeration systems standard. Today, Armellini Industries, Inc. encompasses many businesses: Armellini Express Lines, Inc., J.A. Flower Service, Inc., Fresco Service, Inc., and NorthStar Transportation, Inc. The Julio and Sarah Armellini Scholarship is intended for sophomore, junior or senior students with a career interest in the marketing or distribution of floral products.

The Todd Bachman Memorial Fund will underwrite AFE’s quarterly print and electronic Bulletin in perpetuity. Todd Bachman served as chairman and CEO of Bachman’s before his untimely death in 2008 and epitomized the company’s reputation for hard work and high ethical standards. In addition to being active in many state and national industry organizations, Todd served 10 years on the AFE board and as chairman in 1996 – 1997. Because of his great leadership, he was inducted into the SAF Floriculture Hall of Fame posthumously in 2010 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the industry. Todd was not just a great leader – he was also known for being very personable and a great communicator. He treated family, friends, colleagues and employees with the highest respect, dignity and compassion and always made others feel appreciated . Those who knew him will always remember what a great communicator he was and his outstanding leadership and devotion to work and family. His wife and daughters are honored to carry on his legacy.

Ball Horticultural Company is a leading international breeder, producer and wholesale distributor of floriculture products. Ball brings the beginnings of color, foliage, fruit and form to professional growers around the world for the retail and landscape markets. The Ball Horticultural Company Scholarship is intended for junior or senior students pursuing a career in commercial floriculture.

Harold Bettinger was a partner in Bettinger Farms of Swanton, Ohio. In the mid-’50s, he was one of the first progressive growers to convert his bedding plant production from wooden to plastic flats. Bettinger Farms now grows greenhouse and field vegetables. The Bettinger Scholarship is intended for horticulture students, sophomore through graduate levels, who have a major or minor in business and/or marketing with the intent to apply their education to a horticulture-related career business.

The BioWorks IPM/Sustainable Practices Scholarship is intended for sophomore, junior or senior students pursuing a career in floriculture. Students will be selected on the basis of sound academic performance and a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. While not mandatory, it is strongly desired that the student be interested in furthering the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or sustainable practices, and preference will be given in this area.

Jim Bridenbaugh was a specialist in fresh flowers and plants, designing and commentating at design shows and seminars. His floral industry knowledge, comedic storytelling and audience rapport made him a favorite. Jim served as OFA president from 1989 to 1991. The Bridenbaugh scholarship is for sophomore, junior or senior students who are pursuing a career in floral design and marketing of fresh flowers and plants.

Established by CalFlowers, this scholarship is for undergraduate students attending an accredited California college or university (first priority) or an undergraduate California resident attending an accredited college or university elsewhere in the U.S. (second priority). Students applying for this scholarship do not need to be majoring in an agricultural program but must demonstrate a commitment to seeking employment in the floriculture industry after graduation. A work history or a meaningful internship experience in floriculture is necessary if the applicant is not obtaining an agricultural degree. Students should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

John Carew, former head of the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, dedicated his career to encouraging and guiding young horticulturists. He was instrumental in establishing BPI in 1969. The Carew scholarship is open to graduate students in horticulture with an interest in greenhouse crops.

Barbara Carlson, along with her husband Will, was instrumental in the establishment of Bedding Plant International (BPI) trade association, which served hundreds of growers. Fran Johnson enjoyed a long, productive career with the John Henry Co., a horticultural printing firm in Lansing, Mich. Fran also made many significant and practical contributions of time and talent through BPI to advance the greenhouse industry. The Carlson-Johnson Scholarship for Nontraditional Students is awarded to students re-entering school after a minimum three-year absence who have an interest in bedding and/or floral crops.

Ed Markham was an international horticulturist. He began a career in horticulture sales after graduating from the Horticulture Department at Cornell University in 1942. Ed’s interest in providing scholarship funds to study marketing through international travel stemmed from his first trip abroad in the early 1960s. The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation Scholarship operates in cooperation with the David Colegrave Foundation in London, England. Each year there will be an exchange of students between the U.S. and Europe, alternating between the two countries. Scholarship awards of $4,500 will be made. U.S. students should apply for this scholarship in even-numbered years (2020, 2022, etc.)

Earl Dedman owned and operated Mountainview Greenhouses in Woodinville, Wash., and was a former president of BPFI. In addition to his participation with BPFI and BPI, Earl was involved with the Montana State Flower Growers, the Puget Sound Flower Growers and the Washington Floricultural Association. Educated in rural Montana in a one room schoolhouse, Earl had a strong commitment to education, believing it was a great way better yourself. Earl considered education and hard work to be the keys to success in life. The Earl Dedman Scholarship is awarded to junior or senior students maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA who are interested in becoming greenhouse growers.

The Del Demaree Family Fund will establish an internship program to market the industry as a viable career path to attract top collegiate talent with a concentration in business. Delmar “Del” Demaree has an unsurpassed commitment to the floral industry and to the Endowment, where he served as chairman in the early 1990s. Del, chairman of Syndicate Sales, Inc., has earned the utmost respect of his peers and colleagues throughout more than 60 years in the industry, and he is acclaimed for his foresight, enthusiasm and business acumen. Del has led many industry organizations over the years, notably as Society of American Florists (SAF) president and as treasurer for the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association (WF&FSA). Further, he received the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) Award of Merit for his support and promotion of AIFD’s educational goals and also the Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award from WF&FSA. Additionally, he has served as chairman for numerous community boards and committees and was awarded the 2013 Hall of Legends award by his community in Indiana. The Demaree Family has been a generous AFE supporter for decades and continues their involvement, with Del’s daughter, Syndicate President Laura Shinall, currently serving as an AFE trustee.

The Dewar Family Scholarship Fund will be awarded to an undergraduate student (or students) in their junior or senior year, studying environmental horticulture with an emphasis and focus on a career in floriculture. The fund is established by the Dewar Family of Dewar Nurseries. Dewar Nurseries was established in 1963 by founder Alex Dewar, with the vision of providing premier plants and exemplary customer service. The Dewar Family appreciates the value of a quality education and is excited to encourage young professionals to enter floriculture production and business with this scholarship.

This scholarship honors the late Paul Ecke, Jr. of Encinitas, Calif., who made indispensable contributions to the advancement of the global floriculture industry. Among his many interests was concern for the future of floriculture, as influenced by innovative research and educational programs. He recognized that creative scientists and educators are required to lead the floral industry in the 21st century and beyond. Each year, one student will receive $5,000 for two consecutive years, providing that they continue to meet requirements for this duration and submit an annual update.

The Ferriss Horticulture Scholarship will be awarded annually to an undergraduate student entering their junior or senior year who is majoring in Horticulture or Plant Sciences, with a career interest in herbaceous ornamental plants and floriculture industry. Preference will be given to students who have a demonstrated interest in commercial greenhouse production of herbaceous ornamental or floriculture crops (i.e., non-edible, non-medicinal crops), research related to the production, physiology, or breeding of herbaceous ornamental and floriculture crops, and/or the sales and marketing of herbaceous ornamental and floriculture crops. The applicant should have a cumulative GPA of 2.6 or greater.

The Garcia Family Scholarship Fund is intended for junior or senior students attending a two- or four-year institution with a career focus on the marketing or distribution of floral products, including retail, wholesale, manufacturing and/or floral business  ownership/operations. The Garcia Family has proudly served the floral industry since 1965.   Owned by the Garcia family, Garcia Group, Inc. operates six different divisions: Floral-Pak® Company; Plus One Imports™; Garcia Group Glass—Floraglas® and G3® brand products; Vase D’Lite® and Premium Wood Picks. All are represented exclusively by the Pete Garcia Company™ THE BEST LINES IN THE WORLD®.

The Joseph H. Hill Memorial Fund was established in 2021 by the Joseph H. Hill Memorial Foundation Board of Directors to provide funding to research projects focusing on greenhouse cut flowers.

The Joseph H. Hill Memorial Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1961 to support the commercial cut flower and floriculture industry through research grants, publications, and meetings. It discontinued activities in June 2021 but established this fund with AFE to continue the legacy.

This scholarship was established in memory of the late Bob Gunther, owner of Gunther’s Greenhouses & Florist in Oceanside, New York. It is intended for students from Long Island and New York who are studying ornamental horticulture at a community college or four-year institution in New York. This includes floriculture, landscape maintenance, landscape design, turf and any other courses of study related to ornamental horticulture. One student will be awarded this scholarship annually. Robert Edward “Bob” Gunther was treasurer for LIFGA for many years and instrumental in the establishment of LIFGA’s first scholarship. Gunther received the Lifetime Achievement Award from LIFGA, where he also served as a board member. He and his brother Fred took over the family business after his father passed away in 1969. Bob ran the business up until the time of his passing in 2015 at the age of 85.

The LIFGA scholarship was established in 2010. LIFGA members represent growers and retailers promoting research, education and sales of ornamentals in the local market. The LIFGA scholarship is intended for students in the Long Island/New York area studying ornamental horticulture at a community college or a four-year institution.

Established through generous contributions from longtime industry members and AFE supporters, Herman and LaDonna Meinders, this new fund combines with the first-ever AFE Named Fund established in 2011 by the couple now totaling more than $500,000.

The new education grant fund specifically supports reduced or free registration fees to floral industry events for retail florists by providing grants or scholarships to nonprofit floral industry organizations for this purpose. The fund is fully sustainable and is expected to grow year over year, allowing for increased contributions of important industry educational programs. In its first year, it will provide over $10,000 in grant funding.

Dick Meister built a family business in publishing for specialized growers in commercial horticulture. He is a strong supporter of the land-grant college system and through the years worked closely with many horticultural and floricultural leaders. This scholarship is dedicated to the outstanding accomplishments of those in university extension and especially to Will Carlson in floriculture. The Meister scholarship is open to graduate students in floriculture intending to pursue their career in the land-grant university system with an interest in research, extension or teaching.

The Jacob and Rita Van Namen Marketing Scholarship was established January 1997. Jacob Van Namen is a true entrepreneur who built a Research Report 217 – Banker Plantsmultimillion-dollar business in wholesale floriculture. This award is intended to develop knowledgeable, creative individuals who will improve the floriculture industry. The Van Namen Scholarship requires students to have a career interest in agribusiness marketing and distribution of floral products and be of sophomore, junior or senior standing.

NGMA is a professional trade organization for the manufacturers and suppliers of greenhouses and greenhouse components built to codes designed for a grower’s needs. The National Greenhouse Manufactures Association Scholarship targets students majoring in horticulture and bioengineering or the equivalent and are at least a junior at an accredited four-year college maintaining a 3.0 GPA.

The Christian B. Nissen Research Fund was created in 2009 with a $50,000 contribution from Christian’s parents, Ole and Eleanor Nissen, to honor Christian.
Christian grew up in the family business – Sunshine State Carnations in Hobe Sound, Florida – with his father and two younger brothers, Peter and Eric.  He graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in horticulture, and also took some post graduate courses at Texas A & M and the University of Florida.   Working in the administrative end of the business, he was also involved in decisions concerning planting and labor issues.  He had an interest in both the growing and research sides of the business. Sadly, Christian passed away in 1992 at the age of 36.
The Christian B. Nissen Research Fund supports AFE’s research efforts.

Mike and Flo Novovesky have enjoyed more than 30 years of active participation in the floriculture industry. The Novoveskys know first hand the hardships a young couple must overcome when balancing a career and a family. Their scholarship fund aims to help young married students who are working to put themselves through college and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Depending on the availability of married applicants, the scholarship may also go to an undergraduate working his or her way through school with financial need and family obligations. The keys are strong interest in horticulture and financial need.

The James and Helen Phillip Scholarship Fund was established to honor James and Helen Phillip by providing scholarship assistance to people in need who are interested in careers in the retail and floral design sectors of the floral industry. The Fund was established by a $500,000 donation by their daughter, Lee Phillip Bell, in 2008.  Ms. Bell passed away in 2020.

This AFE scholarship fund provides block grants to institutions to distribute to students primarily in the Great Lakes region, however they are also available to other institutions with established floral design programs. The gift is designed to achieve several goals.

The Gus Poesch Research Fund was established in honor of a true innovator and stimulator of research, and an influential educator and respected businessman, Gus Poesch.

Approximately $40,000 is available and granted annually for recruitment, research, teaching or floriculture projects at The Ohio State University.

Jim Rathmell was a horticulture extension specialist at Penn State University who promoted communication and cooperation with horticulturists in other countries. A widely published author, he worked with commercial growers to implement many outstanding educational programs. The Rathmell scholarship is awarded to junior or senior level undergraduates or graduate students who have a specific plan for horticulture work/study outside of the U.S.

This Retail Florist Continued Education Grant was established by Bob and Carol Sharpe, retired third-generation florists from Frederick, Maryland. Sharpe’s Flowers was considered a Frederick landmark since 1930 and was in business for 84 years. Bob and Carol closed their shop, Sharpe’s Flowers, in 2014 when they retired. Like many retailers, Bob and Carol struggled with finding the time to get out of the shop to attend industry events or continue their education. “In an industry where businesses are handed down from generation to generation, continued education is vital for success,” said Bob. Bob and Carol want to help floral businesses succeed so they worked with the Endowment to create the Retail Florist’s Continued Education Fund.

The seed companies Ball, Pan-American, Goldsmith and Syngenta are leaders in the seed production and breeding industry, providing new, improved varieties. These seed companies cooperatively sponsor this scholarship. The Seed companies scholarship requires students to have a career goal within the seed industry and be junior or senior level undergraduates or graduate students.

Based in Japan, Suntory Flowers is a world-class breeding company dedicated to innovation and enriching people’s lives by creating a world that’s alive with flowers.  Suntory’s guiding philosophy and passion is “Yatte Minahare” – the spirit of bold ambition to dream big, take challenges and never give up.  This means challenging conventional methods and striving to make the impossible possible, like creating the first blue rose or revolutionary new crops, such as Surfinia petunias, Sun Parasol mandevillas and Million Bells calibrachoas.  Let’s inspire the next generation to dream big and go for it with the “Yatte Minahare” spirit while contributing to the growth of our industry. Suntory Flowers Scholarship is intended for junior or senior undergraduate students attending a two- or four-year institution, with a demonstrated focus on a career in floriculture or ornamental horticulture breeding or production, with a passion for exploration in developing new and innovative floral products.

Established in 2022 by the American Floral Endowment (AFE), Sustainabloom is a collaborative initiative dedicated to leading the floriculture industry toward a future enriched with sustainable practices at every level.

Sustainabloom supports the need for continued floriculture research and communication around increased sustainable practices throughout the industry by creating user-friendly guides and resources. These resources are broken down by topic, allowing businesses to assess where they are and where they can do more.

In 2017, a special research campaign was established to address the control and management of Thrips and Botrytis. Losses from these pests affect all segments of the industry every day, and Thrips and Botrytis are challenging to control using currently available pesticides and management strategies. AFE’s goal of reaching $1.5 million in pledges was met in 2019 with contributions from 24 industry leaders and organizations to support new and innovative research to address these challenges. With those funds, AFE has been able to support more than fifteen multi-year research projects to reduce losses and produce higher-quality flowers and plants. Research and research findings like those presented today are possible only through industry support and contributions. Thanks to generous donors, AFE can provide research solutions to support a stronger industry.

John Tomasovic, past president of BPFI, has grown his family business, Tomasovic Greenhouses and Nursery, Inc., in St. Louis, which includes a greenhouse from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. They produce bedding plants, along with nursery stock, mums, poinsettias, and bulbs. The Tomasovic scholarship offers special consideration for sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate students with financial need and grade point average between 3.0 and 3.5.

Ed Tuinier, owner of Post Gardens, loved the greenhouse business, building his firm to one of the top 50 U.S. companies and inspiring his children, all of whom work in one of the two Post Gardens locations. A graduate of Michigan State University, Ed was a major benefactor of the MSU horticulture program and demonstration gardens. The Tuinier Scholarship is awarded to sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate students enrolled in the floriculture program at Michigan State University.

Vic Ball was the son of Ball Horticultural founder George Jacob Ball. As the leading North American producer and distributor of ornamental plants and their seeds, Ball Horticulture has had a tremendous presence in the horticulture business. In 1992, Vic and Margaret Ball made a generous donation to AFE to establish this program for students to receive critical “hands-on” growing experiences to help ensure successful future generations of horticulture professionals. This program gives students the opportunity to gain practical floriculture/horticulture experience while training at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery. Students will intern away from home for three, four or six month periods, and upon completion of their paid internship, they will receive a scholarship in the amount of $1,500 (three months), $4,000 (four months) or $6,000 (six months).

The Vocational (Bettinger, Holden & Perry) scholarship requires students to be in a one or two-year program with the intent to become a grower or greenhouse manager.  The vocational scholarship awards a scholarship in honor of:
LEONARD BETTINGER, who was a successful greenhouse grower in the Bettinger Farms family business in Toledo, Ohio, and was president of the BPI trade association from 1974-76;
JOHN HOLDEN, who had a long, helpful career at Ball Seed Co. and was active in the BPI trade association since it’s inception, attending the very first “pre-BPI” conference in 1968;
JIM PERRY, who was a respected wholesale nurseryman, who grew Perry’s Plants of La Puente, Calif., into one of the largest bedding plant operations in the U.S and was president of BPI from 1972-1974.