The 2023 recipient was Caroline Naylor, AzMF, of Razzle Dazzle® Flowers & Gifts. Caroline used her grant to attend the 2024 SAF Convention in Miami, Florida.
Grants
Arizona Retail Florist Education Travel Grant
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This travel grant was developed for traditional retail florists in Arizona to pursue floral industry educational or design events. The fund was created through the efforts of Ken Young AAF while a member of the AFE Board of Trustees. Initial funds to establish the Grant originated from the defunct FTD District 8K with additional initial funding requirements to establish the fund being provided by Ken and Lynn Young. The value of the fund increases with contributions from industry members made to AFE that are designated for the fund.
Each year, one recipient will be selected by AFE’s Education Committee to receive a travel grant of up to $1,000 to help cover the cost of attending an out-of-state industry educational event.
“This new grant gives Arizona retail florists a great opportunity to attend a major national event and further their education within the industry,” said AFE Trustee Ken Young of Phoenix Flower Shops in Arizona.
View Our Flyer on the Arizona Retail Florist Education Travel Grant!
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Requirements
Applicants must be owners, managers, or employees of traditional retail florists with a brick-and-mortar storefront in Arizona and MUST be requesting this grant for an event that takes place outside of Arizona. An exception to the out-of-state travel requirement is allowed if a national program (like SAF Convention or AIFD Symposium) is held within Arizona.
The grant will be made as a reimbursement after the event is attended. A recipient can receive the grant once every five years.
Examples of eligible opportunities include:
- Floral design schools
- SAF Convention
- FTD Boot Camp
- Floriology Institute
- Teleflora Academy Events
- SAF Profit Blast
- State or Regional Floral Conventions
- Cultivate
- PFCI classes
- AIFD Symposiums
- and more!
The intent of this grant is to expand an applicant’s attendance beyond events they regularly attend and potentially share their expanded knowledge with their industry peers in Arizona. In reviewing applications, weight is given to the diversity of program selected. For example, if the last two or three awards have been to attend the same event then an application to attend an alternative event would be given additional weight.
Applications for this travel grant must be for an industry event in the coming year. (For example, apply in 2024 for travel in 2025.)
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Past Recipients
“Thanks to the Arizona Travel Grant from the American Floral Endowment, I was able to attend this incredible convention; without this support, attending the convention across the country would have been more challenging, and I would have missed so many valuable learning opportunities. The knowledge, skills, and connections I gained will not only enhance our small retail floral shop and my professional development but also benefit my local community in Arizona and will surely influence my work for years to come.”
- 2023: Caroline Naylor AzMF from Razzle Dazzle® Flowers & Gifts – 2024 SAF Convention in Miami, Florida.
- 2022: Renee’ Potter AIFD from Fred’s Flowers in Tempe, AZ – 2023 AIFD Symposium in Chicago, Illinois
- 2021: Patti Klawans of Mayfield Florist — 2022 AIFD Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2019: Bre Schindler of PJ’s Flowers & Events – Due to Covid 19 AIFD 2020 was canceled.
- 2018: Martha Aaron of Sedona Mountain High Flowers in Sedona, Arizona — 2019 AIFD Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2017: Karen Crawford of God’s Garden Treasures – 2018 AIFD Symposium in Seattle, WA
