Queens Botanical Garden raised over $150,000 during its second annual Rambling Rose Gala on Wednesday night. The outdoor event welcomed guests to bask in the beauty of nature by “rambling” through the various gardens. Attendees also indulged in food stations, took part in garden tours, and participated in a raffle drawing.
Rambling Rose Gala Honorees Andrea Woodner and Julia Felix (Photo by Oliver Lopez)
“The Garden is nourished by the support of the community and we are so grateful to everyone who contributed to this event,” Evie Hantzopoulos, QBG executive director, said. “The donations raised will ensure that the Queens Botanical Garden continues to provide beauty, healing, environmental programs, and culture to Queens and beyond.”
This year’s event honored Andrea Woodner and Julia Felix with the Rose Gala Award for their longstanding support of the Queens Botanical Garden and help to bring nature and arts to the community.
“We know that the Queens Botanical Garden is truly the people’s garden. It’s been reinterpreted and reinvented by generations of Flushing residents. And it prospers under the dedicated care of the remarkable Garden staff. And I can’t thank you enough for what you provide to this neighborhood, to this borough, and to this city,” Rose Gala honoree Andrea Woodner said. “There are really no words to adequately thank you for this honor…My congratulations to the Queens Botanical Garden. It is my best hope and best wishes for what I know will be a great and vibrant future.”
Also in attendance was QBG Board Chair Raymond D. Jasen, partner-in-charge of tax with KPMG’s New York Financial Services, New York City Councilwoman Sandra Ung, QBG Director of Development Olivia Cothren, GBG Gardener Colin Kirk, Assistant Gardener Jennifer Ko, with supporters and sponsors.
“Whenever I come [to the Garden], I get recharged. And I look at the people who work at the Garden—they are so dedicated,” Rose Gala Honoree Julia Felix said, expressing her gratitude for being honored alongside longtime employer and friend, Andrea Woodner.
QBG also thanked the following individuals, companies, and foundations for their generous support.
Yellow Rose
Saul & Gail Kupferberg, The Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation, The Kupferberg Foundation, and Andrea Woodner
Red Rose
Con Edison, Metro Management Development, Inc., and New York Presbyterian-Queens
View of the Rambling Rose Gala at QBG (Photo by Eryn Hatzithomas)
Pink Rose
Cord Meyer Development, Dime Community Bank, Farrell Fritz Raymond Jasen, Main Street Radiology, Resorts World Casino NY, Robert & Rovena Schirling, Veronica Tsang, and WAC Lighting/Glow Culture Center/Glow Foundation
White Rose
Lee-Lee Chang, Flushing Bank, Alison Fung, Dr. Wensong Li, Jenny Zeng, and RKLA Studio Landscape Architecture
Coral Rose
Altourage, Bartlett Tree Experts, BKSK Architects, Evie Hantzopoulos, David Motamed, Rose and James Huang, Edward Ip, Eve Klein, the Rotary Club of Flushing, Susan Lacerte & Archie Hobson, and the Sino-American Friendship Association, Inc.
Rose Buds
ArborPro, Rodney Benson, Suzanne Brienza, Broadway Stages, Claire Bullard, Ming-der Chang, dStephanie Ehrlich/Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, EW Howell Construction Group, Howard B. Jacobson C.P.A., P.C., Pauline Huang, ICS Agency, CB7 Chairman Eugene Kelty, Mabel Law, Maspeth Federal Savings, Edie Meyer, Frank Mirovsky, PKF O’Connor Davies, Edward & Reva Potter, Terri Powell, Queens Botanical Garden Tai Chi Group, Queens College, Nancy Shannon, the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, and Shopcore.
