Native Plant Horticulture Foundation GivingTuesday Match announced

Donations up to $250 will be matched dollar for dollar on GivingTuesday, November 28, 2017 when you give to the Native Plant Horticulture Foundation, a start-up charity focused on expanding the supply of native plants and native plant professionals to every community. GivingTuesday is an annual global day of philanthropy celebrated the first Tuesday after the Thanksgiving weekend and provides an altruistic complement to the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping experiences.

The foundation began working in 2016 and with the support of nearly 50 donors, has launched the following programs.

STUDENT SUPPORT
Creating industry exposure, experience and education opportunities for high school and college students interested in native plant careers.

The foundation communicates regularly with nearly 100 students interested in native plants and is cultivating relationships with 30 schools that have relevant academic programs. Fifteen students have been sponsored with travel and registration fees for professional events that might otherwise be cost prohibitive. To help students connect with future job opportunities, the foundation makes introductions, referrals and circulates resumés and is now working with FANN to define future apprenticeship and internship programs.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Helping strengthen native plant businesses and develop the native plant workforce.

The foundation partners closely with industry groups and nonprofits to provide native plant continuing education and training to industry professionals, as well as management and marketing education for small native plant businesses. Thanks to foundation sponsorship, 185 industry professionals have attended 18 different classes at the FANN (Florida Association of Native Nurseries) Native Plant Show. The foundation sponsors the annual Native Plant Industry Retreat hosted by FANN to inspire native plant professionals to innovate and advance their businesses. The foundation also sponsored the TappedIn networking event for dozens of young horticulture and landscape professionals at the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association’s annual Landscape Show.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Driving increased demand for native plants and native landscaping with education and outreach to the gardening public, students and industry professionals.

The foundation sponsored a special all native plant episode of the new TV program, Flip My Florida yard, which advocates individual water conservation through Florida-friendly landscaping, including the use of native plants. Broadcast throughout Florida on cable television, this episode has resulted in new projects and customers for several native plant businesses. The foundation sponsors partner education events including the Florida Native Plant Society’s annual conference and the Florida Wildflower Foundation’s annual symposium, reaching hundreds of people. These events expose attendees to the native plant movement and immerse them in the scientific grounding and conservation imperative for using native plants. The foundation also sponsors FANN’s Guide for Real Florida Gardeners, Native Plant & Service Directory, and associated social media reaching over 100,000 people in print and online.