News
Travel Grants Supporting Florists’ Professional Growth
September 16, 2025
Each year, we provide grants to support the continued and future education of industry members. Our retail florist education travel grants are focused on helping florists expand their skills by making it possible to attend major educational conferences and design events.
This year, two outstanding florists, Dani Pritt of Cactus Flower Florists and Megan Hellmann of Mountain High Flowers, were awarded with the travel grants from the Arizona Retail Florist Education Travel Fund to participate in the 2025 SAF Next Gen Live! and the 2025 AIFD Symposium.
The Arizona Retail Floral Education Travel Grant was created to provide support for traditional retail florists in Arizona as they pursue continued education. The grant is open to owners, managers, and employees of traditional retail florists with a brick-and-mortar storefront in Arizona and 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 and support from Arizona floral businesses.
Applications are currently open for this grant, as well as for the Ken and Jean Royer Family Fund Grant and the Retail Florist’s Continued Education Grant – learn more and apply by Oct. 1st!
The Ken and Jean Royer Family Fund – Retail Florist Education Travel Grant is designed to facilitate ongoing education and networking at industry events, particularly for individuals who might face financial barriers to participation. Applicants must be owners, managers, or employees of traditional retail florists with a brick-and-mortar storefront and must be requesting this grant as a First Time Attendee of a regional, state, or national conference/event. Founded in 2024 with a bequest from the estate of Ken and Jean Royer, The Ken and Jean Royer Family Fund promotes floral industry education.
The Retail Florist’s Continued Education Grant provides reimbursement grants to brick-and-mortar retail floral owners in the Maryland, Virginia and DC areas to continue their education through in-person industry events, community courses or webinar classes. This grant was established by Bob and Carol Sharpe, retired third-generation florists from Frederick, Maryland. Sharpe’s Flowers was considered a Frederick landmark since 1930 and was in business for 84 years.
We’re proud to celebrate this year’s recipients and share highlights from their enriching experiences. Read on to hear directly from Dani and Megan about what they learned and how they are bringing what they learned back to their businesses!
Dani Pritt, AzMF – Cactus Flower Florists in Scottsdale, AZ
All I can say is WOW! Thank you, American Floral Endowment, for the opportunity and for choosing me as the recipient of the Arizona Travel Grant. This grant made it possible for me to continue learning and blooming in our incredible industry.
On February 23rd, I said YEE-HAW and headed off to Dallas, TX to meet with industry peers for SAF Next Gen. Upon arrival, the sessions kicked off quickly, starting with an interacting challenge to get to know fellow attendees. The challenge entailed finding others that shared the same answers from the “Get to Know You” questions that displayed on the projection screens. I absolutely loved this opportunity! It was fun and interesting to learn about others and discover how many peers shared similar likes and ideas. One question that stood out was “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?” The most popular answer was Holland/Amsterdam, with many wanting to see the famous tulips fields!
Next, we dove into our sessions, kicking off with So You Think You Know Flowers? The room came alive when the Pantone Color of the Year was announced as Mocha Mousse, and the buzz didn’t stop there. The panel discussed exciting new floral varieties, such as dahlias now being sourced out of Columbia, new cymbidium varieties from Guatemala and the testing of pollen-less lilies! The panel also highlighted the importance of proper floral care to ensure longevity, significance of sustainability for the next generation and how technology, especially AI, is truly making an impact in the floral industry, which was another panel discussion.
My favorite session was focused on leadership and management – how to be a successful leader, drive positive change, and create an environment where anything is possible with support. I loved hearing that many shops face similar challenges learning about the creative strategies and company tactics they use to keep operations running smoothly and maintaining a strong team dynamic.
The fun didn’t stop there of course, after all the note taking it was time to escape the hotel and hit the trails on our next adventure! We began with a visit to the Dallas Arboretum, where SAF split us into random groups for a scavenger hunt through the beautiful gardens. The arboretum featured stunning tulips, lush greenery, breathtaking statues, some of the oldest trees in the world and relaxing waterfalls. It was the perfect day for exploration.
After completing our scavenger hunt, all teams returned to the buses, and we headed to Dr. Delphinium, one of Dallas’ premier floral and event companies. Dr. Delphinium welcomed us warmly and guided us through their facility showcasing their top products, wine, chocolates and gifts. The experience concluded with a stunning display of Organic Brutalism by Jenny T. and her team, The Creative Cartel. The creativity was mesmerizing, mind-blowing and truly brilliant!
Thank you once again for this amazing opportunity. The wealth of information and knowledge shared is invaluable and essential to keeping the floral industry young, vibrant and thriving. Cheers!
Megan Hellmann, AzMF – Mountain High Flowers in Sedona, AZ
I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 AIFD Symposium in Palm Springs, thanks to the support of an AFE travel grant. I was able to participate in the events on Saturday, July 12, through Monday, July 14, and from the moment I arrived, I was immediately immersed in the floral magic thoughtfully woven throughout the hotel. Everywhere I looked, there was something inspiring.
One of the most impactful experiences was the hands-on workshop with Bart Hassam, focused on the Principle of Placement. He introduced the golden rule of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on, drawing from the Fibonacci sequence, to guide intentional, balanced floral design. Bart emphasized the power of dedicated, thoughtful placement and offered valuable tips for floral competitions that I’ll carry with me moving forward.
Another unforgettable moment was the mainstage presentation with Björn Kroner-Salie. He made a grand entrance riding a floral-decorated bike, instantly setting a creative tone. His program, Outlines, encouraged us to push the boundaries of traditional floral design and incorporate unexpected materials like canvas, paint, and even sound to enhance storytelling.
I also attended the moving mainstage program Windows into Life’s Journey, which used breathtaking floral window displays, ballet, and a beautiful love story to show how design can reflect human experiences. This session reminded us of the importance of storytelling in our work, using elements like unity, repetition, rhythm, and harmony to bring emotion and meaning into our designs.
The AIFD Symposium is more than just a series of shows: it’s about mentorship, connection, and continuing the legacy of excellence in floral artistry. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and the inspiration it’s given me to grow, connect, and create with even more purpose.
You could be our next travel grant recipient! The deadline to apply for AFE’s travel grants is approaching quickly on Oct. 1st. Grants are reviewed annually, and funding is dependent on the number of available resources. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click here.
