Record-breaking Amount Raised for Our 60th Aniversary Virtual Fundraising Campaign

Record-breaking Amount Raised for Our 60th Anniversary Virtual Fundraising Campaign

60 Days to Raise $100,000 – Supporting another 60 years of floral industry programs, research, and resources!

We are pleased to announce that a record-breaking $161,080 was raised through industry sponsorships and donations in support of the $100,000 in 60 Days Virtual Fundraising Campaign. 2021 marks the 60th Anniversary of AFE’s existence, and while an in-person event wasn’t feasible, a 60-day peer-to-peer virtual fundraising campaign was launched. With the support of 24 fundraisers (seen right) from our Board of Trustees, staff, and most devoted ambassadors, the campaign kicked off June 14th and wrapped up on August 13th.

Within the first 30 days of the campaign, we surpassed our initial goal of $60,000 thanks to the quick work of our ambassadors and the generosity of our floral industry community. This gave us the opportunity to aim high, increasing our goal amount to $100,000. Incredibly, the second goal was also passed with the support of over 150 donations.

This fully virtual campaign took the place of our annual fundraising dinner in order to ensure the safety and continued health of the floral community. We are looking forward to an in-person event next year but are grateful that the community could celebrate with us from their homes during these uncertain times. Our dedicated fundraisers made the campaign a huge success by reaching out to their own networks along with our existing community of donors — expanding the reach of AFE’s programs and resources.

For the past 60 years, AFE has provided vital scientific research, supported education, and awarded dozens of annual scholarships, as well as administered industry internship programs nurturing young professionals.

Supporters of this sponsorship-based campaign are directly impacting the industry by investing in the future. Contributions to AFE help the industry face new challenges and ensure that all of our programs can continue to meet growing demands. Our funding goes directly back to the industry it serves — providing for the future of floral.

Click here to see some of the first-hand impacts of our programs and funding. Industry leaders, researchers, faculty, and students have shared with us their stories of how AFE has changed their lives in the industry using #AFEandMe. One example includes the following from AFE’s scholarship recipient, Armando de Loera, “The American Floral Endowment helped me to achieve my professional goals and start a successful career in the floral industry. The scholarship provided was valuable support that greatly furthered my professional training and allowed me access to more resources while gaining knowledge and experience.”

We are incredibly grateful for the support of all of our committed sponsors, donors, and fundraisers. Thank you for providing for the future of the floral industry and celebrating our 60th with us!

Our 60th Anniversary Celebration continues through December 31st, so there’s still plenty of time to support AFE with a contribution. Every dollar – small or large – grows the annual funding. Visit www.endowment.org/60th to learn more and participate in our Anniversary celebration through a tax-deductible contribution.