New Fund Honors the Legacy of Yoshimi and Grace Shibata

AFE announced the establishment of the Yoshimi and Grace Shibata Family Fund, honoring the late flower grower and wholesale florist Yoshimi “Shimi” Shibata and his wife Grace. Shimi passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 31 surrounded by family. The floral industry pioneer was 100 years old.Founded by a generous contribution from the Shibata family, this new named fund honors the lifetime legacy of Shimi and Grace and their accomplishments in the floral industry.“Shimi and the entire Shibata family have always been great champions of the industry,” said Executive Director Debi Aker. “We are honored that the family chose to establish this new fund honoring Shimi and the Shibata family through AFE.”Shimi was a past president of the Mt. Eden…

Christopher Currey Joins AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Committee

Christopher Currey, Ph.D. has been appointed as the newest member of AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Committee.Currey is an assistant professor at Iowa State University and works in the school’s horticulture department.As a member of the Ball Committee, Currey will be working with several AFE Trustees and other faculty members to review student applications for the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship and provide counsel to help promote the program to students.Currey obtained his Ph.D. from Purdue University and his master’s degree in science from the University of Minnesota. He has already received several awards throughout his career, including the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2012 from Purdue University’s Committee for the Education of Teaching Assistants (CETA). He is also…

AFE Announces New Trustees and Appointments

AFE Chairman Gabriel Becerra of Golden Flowers announced the appointments of two new trustees and three new officers during AFE’s 2015 Fundraising Dinner, which was held on September 10.David Garcia of The Pete Garcia Company in Atlanta, Ga., and Greg Royer of Royer’s Flowers & Gifts in Lebanon, Pa., will both serve three-year terms on the AFE Board, with the option of a second term.Gabriel BecerraBecerra also announced the appointments of new AFE Executive Committee members Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc., elected to Chairman-Elect; Kristi Huffman of The John Henry Company in Lansing, Mich., appointed as Treasurer/Secretary; and Laura Shinall of Syndicate Sales, Inc. in Kokomo, Ind., appointed as AFE’s Public Relations and Development Committee Chair.The remaining Executive Committee members…

Supporters Rally to Raise Floriculture Funding at 2015 AFE Dinner

AFE’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the 2015 Annual Fundraising Dinner, was a record-breaking occasion, with more than 270 supporters in attendance.New scholarships, educational programs and donors reaching new giving levels were announced at the dinner, which was held on September 10 at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island in Amelia Island, Fla. in conjunction with the Society of American Florists’ (SAF’s) Annual Convention.Among the many highlights, four new named funds totaling more than $850,000 were announced, and they will join the 12 other named funds created since 2011. Establishing a named fund is a great way to show your support and leave a lasting tribute to the floral industry for years to come.Thank You!2015 Dinner SponsorsReception Sponsor – $4,500TelefloraEntertainment –…

AFE Trustees Get a Taste of the Rockies

AFE Trustees met in Aurora, Colo. in late July for their annual board and committee meetings to plan the Endowment’s programs and goals for the year.The AFE Board had a very successful trip, visiting several industry supporters including Welby Gardens and Tagawa Greenhouses.For their first visit, CEO of Welby Gardens Al Gerace and his son (and Production Manager) Dan were among the few who led the trustees on a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the company’s two growing facilities.Ashley Brinegar at Welby GardensThe Colorado greenhouse, which is also home of the Hardy Boy Plants, specializes in perennials, annuals, herbs, organic vegetables and ornamental grasses. Gerace explained that the small, family-owned business is always expanding, and works closely with other growing…

Memorial Tribute Established for Peggy and Michael Leider

Past AFE Trustee Ken Tagawa has established a new memorial tribute in memory of lifelong floral industry members Margaret Lynch “Peggy” Leider and her son Michael J. Leider Jr. Past AFE Chairman Jim Leider suffered the losses of his wife and son this year, first with the death of Peggy who passed away on March 23, and two months later with the death of his and Peggy’s oldest son Michael, who died on May 24. Peggy succumbed to a long battle with cancer at age 76, and Michael, age 54, also passed away after a brief but painful battle with cancer. “Both Peggy and Michael have given a tremendous amount of support to the industry, side by side with Jim Leider.…

American Floral Endowment Welcomes New Recruit Lori Ostrow

AFE Research Project to Create Buzz for Honey Bee Health

AFE is funding a new research project to examine the health of honey bees on ornamental plants following treatment with neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides.The two-year research project – “Impact and Residual Activity of Systemic Insecticides in Ornamental Plants,” with Clemson University researchers J.C. Chong, Steven Klaine and Jennifer Tsuruda – will document the translocation of systemic insecticides to various plant parts.Honey bees are valuable to commercial crops and the pollination they provide is appreciated by flower, fruit, vegetable, nut and agriculture growers.But since the early 1950’s, honey bee colonies have declined. The declines have been associated with the presence of the varroa mite that transmits a virus to bees, loss of food sources for the bees, climate change and…

Midwest Group Makes Generous Contribution to Tom Butler Family Fund

The Midwest Group, a floral industry trade association consisting of 15 leading florists nationwide, generously donated $1,500 to the Tom Butler Family Fund. The fund was established in 2014 by Tom and Becky Butler to provide general undesignated funds to the American Floral Endowment (AFE), prior to Tom’s passing in August.“Tom engendered a perception of familiarity and love even among casual acquaintances, and the sheer number of people who felt or imagined that bond is a staggering testament to the friendly and thoughtful man we lost,” said Tim Galea, president of Norton’s Flowers & Gifts and a member of the Midwest Group. “Tom was a once-in-a-generation leader who transcended the disharmony of business and earned everyone’s friendship and respect with his genuine…

AFE Appoints Two New Board Members

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is pleased to announce Cynthia “Cindy” Hanauer and William “Billy” Hardin, Jr. as new members of its board of trustees. Both will serve a three-year term with the option for a second term. Cynthia “Cindy” HanauerHanauer is founder and CEO of Grand Central Floral, LLC in Jacksonville, Florida. She has worked in the floral industry for 45 years and held senior positions at the Kroger Company, Winn-Dixie Stores and 1-800-Flowers. Hanauer’s areas of expertise include inventory management, visual merchandising and quality assurance. She is chairman of the floral advisory board for the United Fresh Industry Trade Association, a member of the Society of American Florists (SAF) and the Network of Executive Women, and is actively involved…