News
2025 Year in Review – Growth and Innovation
November 12, 2025
As we close out the year, join us in celebrating the many accomplishments across our industry. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve continued making meaningful strides to fund programs that strengthen the floral community.
2025 Highlights
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
- Over $750,000 awarded to support 20 research projects focusing on pest management, disease control, post-production, technology, and more
SCHOLARSHIP & INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
- 40 Students awarded scholarships and internships ($139,500+) to help build the next generation of floriculture and horticulture professionals
GRANT PROGRAMS
- 24 Organizations awarded educational grants totaling over $100,000, supporting education, new programs, floral design, and young professionals development
- 5 Travel grants awarded to retail florists continuing their education
Additional highlights
- New resources through the Sustainabloom program – 20+ SustainaGuides, industry spotlights, news, and resources on sustainability within the floral industry
- Over 20 free educational and training webinars through Grow Pro, Floral Marketing Fund, Young Professionals Council, Sustainabloom, and Thrips & Botrytis, presented by expert speakers
- Over 100 members in our Young Professionals Council, which fosters networking and professional growth for emerging leaders
Growing Demand – More Funding Needed
While there’s much to celebrate, these accomplishments also highlight the growing demand for AFE’s vital support. Each year, many deserving students, the future leaders of our industry, go without the financial assistance they need. Meanwhile, important research and educational programs aimed at solving industry challenges remain underfunded.
This year alone, more than 120 students applied for scholarships or internships but were unable to receive support. Rising research costs also left 14 projects unfunded. Looking ahead, 38 new research proposals have already been submitted for 2026–2027 funding, focusing on priorities like pest and disease management, production, and new technologies.
With uncertainty around government and alternative funding, AFE’s commitment to sustaining these programs is stronger than ever—but we can’t do it without you.
Thank You to Our 2025 Donors!
- Ah Sam Floral Co.
- Allied Hort Sales, Inc.
- Altman Plants
- Arizona Family Flowers, LLC
- Armellini Logistics
- Asocolflores
- Atlantic Floral Marketing Inc.
- Avon Valley Floral Inc
- Bachman’s, Inc.
- Baisch and Skinner, Inc
- Ball Horticultural Company ^
- Bartz Viviano Flowers & Gifts
- Berger
- Bill Doran Company ^
- Billy Heroman’s ^
- BioWorks
- Blackmore Co., Inc
- Botamer Florist & More *
- Boulevard Florist *
- Burge Flower Shop, Inc.
- Burton + Burton
- Cactus Flower Florists
- CalFlowers ^
- Carlstedt’s, LLC
- Chrysal Americas
- Conner Park Florist, Inc. ^
- Continental Floral Greens
- Costa Farms
- Denver Wholesale Florists
- Dillon Floral Corporation ^
- Dramm Corporation
- Dreisbach Wholesale Florist
- D.S. Cole Growers
- DV Flora *^
- Eason Horticultural Resources, Inc.
- Edge Floral Advisors
- Equiflor
- Esmeralda Farms
- Family Flowers
- FBI Flowers
- Florabundance, Inc. *
- FloraCraft Corporation ^
- Floral Finance Business Services
- Flower Shop Network, Inc.
- Flower World, Inc.
- Flowers by Dick & Son, Inc.
- Fred’s Flowers
- Fresca Farms, LC *
- FreshPath Marketing, LLC
- Freytag’s Florist
- FTD, LLC.
- Gainan Floral, Inc
- Gardens America *
- Georgia State Floral Distributors
- GLOBALG.A.P. North America
- GotFlowers? * ^
- GravityFree Studios *
- Green Mountain Florist Supply, Inc.
- Green Point Nurseries, Inc.
- Growing Systems, Inc.
- Hackney Nursery
- Hall’s Flower Shop and Garden Center
- Hummel’s Flowers, Inc.
- In Bloom Flowers
- Inglis Florists
- Jack’s Basket Import Inc.
- Jimmy’s Flowers Inc.
- K Mike Whittle Designs
- Kennicott Brothers Company ^
- Kennicott Kuts LLC
- LaFave Marketing Group
- Lafayette Florist & Greenhouses, Inc.
- Los Angeles Flower Market of the American Florists’ Exchange Ltd.
- Louisiana Wholesale Florists Inc
- Mayesh Wholesale Florist ^
- Mayfield Florist
- McNamara Florist, LLC
- Mellano & Company ^
- Metrolina Greenhouses, Inc.
- Meyers Flowers
- Mischler’s Florist, Inc.
- M&M Cut Flora
- Mt. Eden Floral Company
- Mycorrihizal Applications ^
- Nanz & Kraft Florists, Inc
- National Greenhouse Manufacturers Assoc.
- Neubauer’s Flowers, Inc. *
- New Blooms Solutions
- North Creek Nurseries
- Northern Trust
- Norton’s Flowers & Gifts
- Nutrien Ag Solutions
- OASIS Grower Solutions
- Oklahoma Florists’ Association
- Patterson’s Flowers Inc.
- Penny’s By Plaza Flowers
- Pérez Villegas Family
- Pete Garcia Company/Garcia Group*^
- Phillip’s Flowers, Interior Plants & Displays
- Phoenix Flower Shops *^
- Pikes Peak Floral
- PJs Flowers & Events
- Plantpeddler Inc.
- Profile Products LLC
- Rebel Hill Flowers
- Reliant Ribbon
- Robertson’s Flowers & Events
- Rosa Flora Limited
- Rose Bud Flowers
- Royer’s Flowers & Gifts
- Sentry – Hortica
- Smith Gardens, Inc
- Smithers-Oasis Company/Floralife
- Sound Advice Audio Visual Productions
- South Central Growers, Inc. ^
- Stadium Flowers
- Suntory Flowers
- Syndicate Sales, Inc.
- Tagawa Greenhouses, Inc.
- Teleflora
- The Flower Shoppe
- The Wonderful Company
- Tipton & Hurst, Inc.
- Tomasovic Greenhouses & Nursery, Inc.
- Tradewinds Intl, LLC
- True Client Pro
- Twixwood Nursery *
- Van der Salm Farms, Inc.
- Viviano Flower Shop
- Vosters Insurance, Inc
- Waldan Gardens
- Walter R. Knoll Florist
- Washington Bulb Co., Inc. *
- WildFlower *
- Zeidler’s Floral Company
* Shows Friends of Floral, our monthly recurring donors. Learn more at endowment.org/friends-of-floral.
^ Shows Donors reaching new lifetime giving levels in 2025. View all levels at endowment.org/donors.
- Mark Allen
- Ken and Deena Altman
- Grace Alvarez
- Teresita Amore
- William Armellini
- Karen Bachman Thull *
- Susan Bachman West *
- Peppi Barboni
- Steven & Sarah Bartfield
- Laura Barth
- Stacia Bartlett
- Bradley Beck
- Mike Berkland
- Joost Bongaerts *
- David Boulton
- Dr. Megan Bowman
- John Burk *
- Dr. Mark Bridgen
- Elizabeth Calder
- Dr. Alicain Carlson
- Anne Chadwick
- Debi Chedester *
- Karsten Coleman
- Sten and Maryann Crissey
- Ed Cronin
- James Daly
- Dr. Margery Daughtrey
- Erin Davidson *
- Jesse de la Garza
- Dr. Jim M. DelPrince
- Steve Dionne
- Dr. John M. Dole
- Patricia M Dorion
- Karla Etten
- Dr. James Faust
- Dr. Tom Fernandez
- Ron and Terry Ferriss
- William Foster
- Jacqueline & Neil Fradin
- Kelvin Frye
- Steve Frye
- Chuck Gainan
- Tim Galea
- David Garcia
- Ramon and Brenda Garcia
- Gustavo Gilchrist
- Kristin Gilliland
- Dr. Ockert Greyvenstein
- Robert Gunther
- Wil Guzman
- Martin Hackney
- Lynne Haley
- Mike Haley
- Dr. Charlie Hall
- Ami Harbig
- Dr. Richard Harkess
- Paul Harris
- Jeronimo Herrera
- Ellen Hikes
- Kjell Hollen-Plotkin
- Jack Howard
- Dr. Michelle Jones
- Lawrence Junkin
- Lynne Karle
- Harrison “Red” Kennicott
- Ramsey Kraft
- Charles Krasnow
- Karin Krause
- Michele LaPorte *
- Andrew and Sandra Lee
- James Leider
- Kathryn & Mark Leider
- Dr. Mary Lewis
- Kevin McCarthy
- Donald McGuire
- The Estate of Herman Meinders
- Dr. Marvin Miller
- Bob & Larissa Milligan
- Heidi Molbak
- Candice Musgrove
- Dr. Terril and Cathy Nell
- Tim Noble
- Mike Novovesky
- Dr. Ellen Paparozzi
- Denise Patterson
- Louis W. Peters
- Kevin Prill
- Vijay Rapaka
- Jack Riggs
- Greg Royer
- Sheila Santiago
- Alexa & Richard Saxon
- Danielle Sitzman
- Jay Sheely
- Laura Shinall
- Robert Shockey
- Christopher Soper
- John Spires *
- Anne & Brent Stewart
- Alan Tanouye *
- Kathleen Thornton
- Dave Vadodaria
- Ashley Van Doren
- Jack Van Namen
- Michelle Van Norden
- Adam Van Winkle
- James and Sue Vosters
- Dr. Kim Williams
- Mary Ellen Winters
- Ken Young *
- Nancy Zigerelli
* Shows Friends of Floral, our monthly recurring donors. Learn more at endowment.org/friends-of-floral.
Don’t see your name on the 2025 donor list? There’s still time to give!
With your support, we can broaden our impact and ensure no potential goes untapped. During this holiday season, please consider including AFE in your year-end giving.
And now, your gift can go even further! A generous donor has pledged $25,000 in matching funds, meaning every dollar you donate will be matched two-to-one—tripling your impact.
To take full advantage of this special opportunity, donations must be made by December 31st. Together, we can keep innovation blooming for the future of floriculture.
