AFE’s 2024 Fundraising Campaign: R.I.S.E. to Support!

R.I.S.E. up to support the floral industry! In an effort to continue to increase support for important research, education, and other floriculture programs to advance our industry, the American Floral Endowment (AFE) has launched its annual fundraising campaign running from May 15th through June 28th with a goal of $100,000 in industry support.  The Endowment's annual summer campaign theme touts the overall tagline of R.I.S.E., representing AFE’s core programs: Research, Internships, Scholarships, and Education for the floral industry. These resources are vital to the ongoing growth of floral; the Endowment is welcoming the industry to R.I.S.E. up with us to help fund ongoing success and support for all segments, ages, and levels. You can check out the campaign launch video featuring industry supporters and AFE's Chairman, Ken Young of Phoenix Flower Shops, by clicking here. Make a…

Applications Now Open for 2024-2025 Educational Grants

We are now accepting applications for our 2024-2025 Educational Grants. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2024. Our Educational Grants help fund wide-reaching industry learning programs that provide solutions and focus on ongoing and new educational opportunities. We are committed to providing funding for various resources that empower the floral industry to invest in continued education. These grants can provide financial assistance to support educational opportunities of all kinds, including national industry conventions, event programs, or virtual events, and they allow us to collaborate with and sponsor national, state, and local association educational programs. Working with important industry organizations including state and national nonprofits, and university programs, our funding helps current industry members, students, and young professionals expand their educational opportunities and professional development. Our…

The Importance of Continued Education: Sharpe Family Grant Supports Retail Florists

Continued education is a vital part of any business, but it is especially vital in the vibrant and ever-changing world of flowers.  The Sharpe family knew how much of an impact pursuing education opportunities and attending industry events can have on a floral business. In 2019, Bob and Carol Sharpe established the Retail Florist’s Continued Education Grant to help businesses in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area pursue educational opportunities that help them stay up-to-date with the latest education, tools, tips, and trends to help their business grow.  “In an industry where businesses are handed down from generation to generation, continued education is vital for success,” said Bob. Bob and Carol wanted to help floral businesses succeed, so they worked…

A Year in Review: A Look Back at 2023

As the year comes to a close, we invite you to celebrate all that the Endowment has been able to accomplish and provide through your ongoing support. What a year it’s been! We couldn’t have done it without you. Together, we have granted over $675,000 in funding this year to support research, internships, scholarships, and education for the entire floral community. Consider making a contribution to support us continuing this great work next year! Here are some key highlights from 2023: Research and advancements are key to the industry’s ongoing growth and success. This year, we have funded 12 ground-breaking research projects, including five new projects and seven continuing projects. The projects are working to move the industry forward and help solve some of…

Educating and Empowering: AFE’s Commitment to Continued Education for the Floral Industry

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is pleased to announce that it is awarding $63,990 in Educational Grants to 19 organizations in 2023-24. This funding will help these organizations host conferences, teach students and educators about the floral industry, offer programs such as greenhouse training and florist certification classes, promote sustainability practices, and more. AFE’s Educational Grants represent an ongoing commitment to the future of the floral industry. By supporting education at all levels, AFE is helping to ensure that the industry has the latest skills, knowledge, programs, and technology it needs to succeed. 2023-2024 Educational Grants Awarded to: America in Bloom – America in Bloom Educational Symposium American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) – Bringing FFA to AIFD Symposium Orlando,…

Arizona Grant Opens Doors of Opportunity for Local Industry Members

Next year, two floral industry members from Arizona will have the chance to attend exciting national industry events to further their education, learn new techniques, and network with other industry members – thanks to AFE’s Arizona Retail Floral Education Travel Grant.  The Arizona Retail Floral Education Travel Grant was created to provide support for traditional retail florists in Arizona to pursue floral industry educational or design events outside of the state of Arizona. The grant is open to owners, managers, and employees of traditional retail florists with a brick-and-mortar storefront in Arizona.  The fund was established from the defunct FTD District 8K with additional initial funding provided by Ken and Lynn Young of Phoenix Flower Shops. The fund continues to grow with contributions…

Helping the Next Generation Succeed at ASHS

Warm weather, beautiful summer blooms, and a vibrant student presence were the backdrop for this year’s American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida from July 31-August 4th, which was attended by nearly 1100 people. AFE was proud to support ASHS’s efforts to engage young professionals by sponsoring the Education and Career Day, the Undergraduate Poster Competition, and the Floriculture Professional Interest Group’s Oral Presentation Competition for Graduate students. AFE’s Research Coordinator Laura Barth attended to present the AFE-sponsored awards and connect with AFE Young Professionals Council (YPC) members and scholarship winners who were in attendance. Events like ASHS are crucial in the development of budding researchers, growers, educators, and leaders, and AFE is dedicated to fostering…

Ensuring Tomorrow’s Leaders Have Access to Floral Education Today

The Phillip Family left a profound impact on floral design through the James and Helen Phillip Floral Design Grant, and today, their legacy is carried forward through the work of inspired floral design students at six institutions across the country.This grant directly supports floral design programs, ensuring a robust learning environment and making floral design programs more attractive to students. Bringing more students into floral design helps to both educate them on the wide range of career possibilities in our industry, and to cultivate a pool of skilled workers who can fill positions in retail flower shops or start their own businesses after graduation. AFE educational grants like these strive to educate, uplift and provide resources for the next generation…

Applications Open for 2023 Educational Grants

We are now accepting applications for 2023-2024 Educational Grants. The deadline for submission is June 1, 2023.AFE’s Educational Grants help fund wide-reaching industry learning programs that provide solutions and focus on ongoing and new educational opportunities. The Endowment is committed to providing funding for various resources that empower the floral industry to invest in continued education. These grants provide financial assistance to support educational opportunities of all kinds, including national industry conventions, event programs, or virtual events. The grants allow AFE to collaborate with and sponsor national, state, and local association educational programs.Working with important industry organizations including state and national nonprofits, and university programs, our funding helps current industry members, students, and young professionals expand their educational opportunities and…

Educational Grant Blooming at Mississippi State University

If there’s one thing we love to see, it’s our educational grants in action, educating and inspiring students. In 2022, AFE gave researchers at Mississippi State University an educational grant of $5,500 to start a cut flower garden on campus. This funding helped purchase perennial plants, gardening tools, and materials to create raised gardens with an irrigation system. MSU began work on the garden last Spring. Since then, they have installed 24 raised flower beds, established a drip irrigation system, placed weed barriers, and set up compost bins. In addition, they grew and evaluated 23 varieties of specialty-cut annual flowers as part of an experiment through the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers.  As the flowers grow, the MSU faculty have…

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