Wonder Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance 2013 Annual Report

Mission: We inspire, educate and provoke exploration through innovative programs and experiences in one of the nation’s largest and finest historic conservatories.

Alliance Board of Directors Margo Morris Chairman Patrick E. Deady Vice Chairman Paul Levy Vice Chairman Perrine E. Knight Secretary Paul A. Labonne Treasurer

Teresa M. Alvarez Cornell Barnett James V. Boardman Stephen L. Eastwood Chip Flannagan John Harris Tony Hernandez John Leja Jacqueline McKay Glenna Mo Mary Nelson Wendy M. Reutebuch Dr. Gwendolyn Rogers Emmie M. Ruffin Peter Schlossman Karen Seamen Marcus Spearman Erika Summers Gail Thompson Peter Vilim Richard Wester

Eunita Rushing President Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Mary Eysenbach Director of Conservatories Chicago Park District Honorary Board of Directors Levette Haynes Ernestine King Alan Lindquist Rev. Eudora Ramey Thomas Sanberg John A. Shea Scott Sonoc Erma Tranter

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance 300 North Central Park Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60624–1945 Telephone 773.638.1766 garfieldconservatory.org Opened in 1908, the Garfield Park Conservatory was designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen. Featuring rare and exotic plants from around the globe, the Conservatory remains one of the largest and most stunning public gardens under glass.

Wonder. It’s that tremendous feeling that wells up inside of us when we are overcome by beauty or the unforeseen. Such awe and amazement often seem in short supply as we go about the routine business of our daily lives, but they are felt in abundance by visitors to the Garfield Park Conservatory who are continually surprised by the rare and unexpected. For the architecture enthusiast, wonder is sparked

one in which visitors are continually “wowed” by programs,

instantly upon entering a vast glass house, intricately

interpretation and events; to enhance our educational

paned more than a hundred years ago to resemble

offerings with a stronger focus on science and conservation;

a Midwest haystack. A child will experience it on an

and to ultimately elevate the Conservatory’s reputation as

exploration of the Fern Room where he finds himself

one of Chicago’s top cultural destinations.

face-to-face with prehistoric-looking plants whose size are

We would like to thank our dedicated members,

matched only by his own imagination. The artist will

donors and volunteers for their enduring support.

be inspired by it in the seasonal garden displays,

Your many contributions make this botanical landmark

which present an ever changing palette of natural color.

the wondrous place that it is. We hope you will continue

And, for the student, wonder surfaces when she connects

to join us in igniting wonder in the hearts and minds

the dots between the plants she sees growing in the soil

of all who visit the Garfield Park Conservatory.

and the food she finds at her dinner table. Every visit to the Conservatory is full of wonder. It is inherent to the Conservatory experience and a core value that guides our work in this magnificent place: “We strive to provoke curiosity in every visitor through authentic, fun, and engaging experiences.” In the following pages of this report, we discuss our work in terms of all our core values—Wonder, Community, Education, Vitality and Performance. They are the foundation of our new strategic plan and will influence all our actions, decisions and outcomes over the next several years. With this new strategic plan in our hands and these values in our hearts, we will be working to create the highest quality visitor experience at the Conservatory,

Eunita Rushing President Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance

Margo Morris Chairman Alliance Board of Directors

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Mary Eysenbach Director of Conservatories Chicago Park District

Community: As a public garden in a vibrant urban setting, we host a myriad of people, attracted to different dimensions of the Conservatory. We provide a welcoming and nurturing environment to all visitors, as we seek to build “communities of purpose” at the Conservatory.

Education: We infuse everything we do with enlightening elements to create transformational learning experiences.

During the past year, the Conservatory was host to a wide range of programs and events, from educational activities and classes that engaged our visitors directly with plants and gardening to an array of art exhibits and musical performances presented within the Conservatory’s unique venue. We bring the public together with professionals for sing-a-longs, storytelling circles and to play musical instruments together. These programs endeavor to honor all races, genders, cultural traditions and genres and highlight cultural connections to specific plants within the Conservatory’s collections.

USA Today recently named Garfield Park one of the best urban green spaces in North America, citing the “educational and kid-friendly” Conservatory. More than 21,000 school children and teachers use the Conservatory as a learning lab for bringing the plant science concepts they read about in their text books to life in hands-on activities that build knowledge and skills. For another 30,000 children and their family members, the Conservatory is a gateway to experiencing nature up close, and is an important first step in developing an understanding of and appreciation for the environment and conservation.

“At the Conservatory, I want to slow down and hear the voices of the plants and trees. The more I see, the more I want to know. I’ve been influenced to pay attention to and care about what nature offers from around the world especially since it has been brought right to me. I used to think that I needed to leave the neighborhood to slow down or relax. Now I know that I don’t have to board a plane, train or ship to do that. The Conservatory is available to me, a local vacation spot where I feel at home.” Bernadine Cooper Lawndale 2 | garfield park conservatory alliance

“Our students formed a close relationship with the experts at the Conservatory, learning first hand from scientists in the field. The beekeepers mentored our students in learning the habits of a beekeeper and creating scientific drawings of honeybees. Their learning was profoundly affected by their work with the experts at the Conservatory. And not to mention, the hill in the back yard is so fun to roll down!” Mona Iehl 1st Grade Teacher Polaris Charter Academy

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Vitality: As an institution committed to plants and people, we are devoted to promoting human well-being and environmental responsibility. This means embracing sustainable practices and recognizing the regenerative benefits that plants, gardening, and greening have on society.

For hundreds of Chicagoans, the Conservatory provides education, resources and hands-on training in gardening, composting and beekeeping. Many of these classes are offered in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Master Composters, who lend their expertise to educating the public about sustainable gardening practices. Our active volunteer corps contributed more than 6,800 hours, helping us to maintain the Conservatory’s collections and to educate the public about the benefits of plants and greening. Volunteers gave more than 700 hours to our beekeeping program alone, maintaining the Conservatory’s hives, providing public education about the importance of bees, and harvesting more than 300 pounds of honey that is sold to support Conservatory programs and initiatives.

“I was very interested in compost from the very beginning because it just made perfect sense to me that our food waste can become soil that we can grow out of. ...Immediately they told us how we could compost, at home, in the winter. We could do a worm compost bin, and I was like ‘I’ve got to go home, figure this out, we’ve got to get some worms.’ ... We were inspired to do it at home.” Brendan Gross, 30 Chicago

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Performance: We are accountable to our public, supporters, and partners. We are consistent, and aim for excellence and the highest quality in everything we do.

The Conservatory continues to undergo renovations to repair the damage caused by the June 2011 hailstorm that destroyed 60% of the facility’s glass roofs. Various houses have been temporarily closed throughout the construction process, so we have worked especially hard to communicate with our members and donors to keep them informed about programs and events happening despite facility closures. Through these efforts, we saw a 9% increase in attendance over FY 2010, the year before the hailstorm hit. And by revamping the Conservatory’s membership program, we gained 220 new members.

“[Staff] made this first trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory incredibly special. [They] offered advice and views on what to see, answered questions and were incredibly well informed. Thanks!” Donald Kamm, 48 Chicago

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FY 2013 Contributions

Foundations, Corporations & Government $50,000 + Alphawood Foundation Chicago Park District Wells Fargo Private Family Foundation $25,000–$49,999 The Chicago Community Trust PNC Bank Polk Bros. Foundation Prince Charitable Trusts $10,000–$24,999 After School Matters The Allstate Foundation Bank of America Foundation The Boeing Company Helen Brach Foundation Crown Family Philanthropies Dr. Scholl Foundation Leo S. Guthman Fund John R. Halligan Charitable Fund Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw LLP The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund Pierce Family Foundation Tengelsen Family Foundation $5,000–$9,999 Ariel Investments Illinois Arts Council IMC Chicago Charitable Foundation Jocarno Fund Manaaki Foundation

Patagonia Chicago St. Paul’s Community Church Sun-Times Foundation Waterton Associates

Individuals

$2,500–$4,999 Anonymous Christy Webber Landscaping Cole Taylor Bank Franczek Radelet P.C. Hogan Marren, Ltd. Polsinelli Shughart Sidley Austin LLP U.S. Trust

$5,000–$9,999 Christopher Hunt Deirdre and Laird Koldyke Whitney and Jerry Lasky Paul A. Levy and Mia Park Mary Claire and Ken Moll Shauna and Barry Montgomery Margo Morris and Stanley B. Tamkin Dr. Gwendolyn D. Rogers and John Rogers Sr. Sarah Crown Star

$1,000–$2,499 Frank G. and Gertrude Dunlap Fund Edelman USA Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Jones Day Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC Marlot Foundation The Oppenheimer Family Foundation Park Madison Partners Westside Reunion Committee $500–$999 A5 Inc. Gerald A. & Karen A. Kolschowsky Foundation Plante Moran, PLLC Tony Pondel Certified Financial Planner Tishman Speyer

$10,000–$24,999 Harry C. and Susan M. Meyers

$2,500–$4,999 Teresa Alvarez and Peter Gerritsen Douglas Hoerr Perrine E. Knight Wanda and Kevin McDonald Wendy M. Reutebuch and Peter J. Kaeding John W. Rogers, Jr. Emmie M. and W. C. Ruffin Michael and Lisa Sparrow Richard Wester $1,000–$2,499 Elaine Alvarez Melissa M. Babcock Christine Barcikowski Howard B. Bernick Patrick and Pamela Deady Catherine and Patrick C. Dowd

Timothy and Eliza Earle Stephen L. and Dorne Eastwood William F. and Shelley Farley Robert Flynn Marcy Gookin John W. and Martha Higgins Gail Hodges Roberta Jaworski John A. Leja Elizabeth Liebman Suzanne Lovell Lois Korda Mara Maddocks Jane McCahill Mike and Kristina McGrath Glenna Mo Greg Mutz Mary K. Nelson John Noell

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Michael D. and Kay R. O'Halleran Shawna and Jay Owen Yon Parillo Patricia Petrowski and Matthew Twetten Elizabeth Ryan Karen L. Seamen Dawn Sinclair Shapiro William D. and Maria Smithburg Robert N. and Eileen Stein Sarah Stratton Robin and Mark Tebbe Peter and Joan Vilim Thomas J. Wedell and Terry Walker-Wedell $500–$999 Tricia Rooney Alden Ross Alexander S. James Perlow and Sandra Allen Lindsay J. Anderson Richard Assmus Ronald and Terry Bernardi Daniel Boehnen Robert and Catherine Breit Sophie and Jonathan Bross Celio Family Nathaniel P. Clapp Jason Comer and Sheli Hadari Patricia Cox Dorothy Coyle Brian Crummy

Duane Ehresman Julia Erdman Jim and Maxine Farrell Susan and Kevin Flynn Peter Frankel Gerald Freedman Aleksandra Fremderman Katharine Friedman Jaime Galvan Howard and Jacqueline Gilbert Suzanne and Ross Glickman Erica G. and Dale R. Granchalek Karen Z. Gray Charles Hafner Julia Hauldren Beth Hughes Roxanne Hysert Melinda Jakovich Gary and Margaret Kachadurian Jim Karas John and Judy Keller Henry Krasnow Alicia and Brett Kreisman Mark and Marilyn Labkon Mary Lasky Jane Loppnow David and Amanda Mabie Marsha McClellan Terrence McDermott Jacqueline L. McKay Elizabeth and Richard Messersmith

Sally Morris Clare Munana Diana and Richard Pine Christine Pope Laura Prang Elizabeth D. Price Jennifer Roche Desiree Rogers Bonnie Rothman Arlen D. Rubin Eunita Rushing Betsy Sales Hilary Sallerson Peter Schlossman and Sara Zimmerman Shannon Schuyler Jason Bakwin Selch and Deborah Selch Lee Tomic

Richard and Noren A. Ungaretti Kimberly White Gifts In Memory of Julianna Battaglia Faye Joyce Brown Clara Reis Gifts In Honor of Mary Bowmann Ray Jorgensen Whitney Lasky Nancy Levine Shauna Montgomery Margo Morris Carey Payne Emmie Ruffin Peter Vilim

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Financials

Garfield Park Conservatory by the Numbers

Revenue

Expenses 2%

9% Fundraising Events $149,827**

Other Income $31,781

105 – age of the Conservatory

7% Room Rental $106,032

14 – total acreage, including indoor display houses and outdoor gardens

10% Fundraising $174,016

9% Individual Gifts $142,224

2%

35%

Gift Shop $35,125*

Foundation & Corporate $553,149

3%

24% General and Administrative $421,126

63% Program Services $1,106,934

Membership $44,660

1% In-kind $15,879

3% 1%

31%

Program Fees $15,005

Government $500,033

Gift Shop $51,069

Total Revenue

Total Expenses

*Net direct of costs of $84,065 in 2013

$1,593,715

$1,753,145

**Net direct of costs of $129,676 in 2013

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85 – year-round temperature of the Palm House

500 – species of cacti and succulents in the Desert House 236 – species of ferns in the Fern Room 71 – palms in the Palm House, plus 65 other species of trees

8 – number of water features, including 160,000 – visitors a lagoon and prairie waterfall from all 50 states and 5,000 – varieties of plants in the 34 foreign collection countries last year

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Caring for the House that Jensen Built

Alliance Staff

Eunita Rushing President Jill Antoniewicz Director of Development Helen Hardy Director of Finance & Administration

Audrey Sherer Family Programs Coordinator

James Condeles Floriculturist

Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners

Kristen Smith Accounting Coordinator

Gavin Crowley Floriculturist

Bryan Traubert President

Shannon Torii Visitor Services Coordinator

Bill Fischer Floriculturist

Avis LaVelle Vice President

Mattie Wilson Volunteer Coordinator

Frank Garza Floriculturist

Erika R. Allen

Chicago Park District Staff

Jeff Horath Floriculturist

Donald J. Edwards Kelly Calvillo Program Registrar Kristen Ciokajlo Grants Manager Robin Cline Exhibits Manager Yadira Correa School Programs Facilitator Mike Donatowicz Gift Shop & Visitor Services Manager

Mary Eysenbach Director of Conservatories Harvey Bernstein Curator of Collections Joan Colon Marketing Specialist Steve Meyer Horticulturist Matt Barrett Floriculture Foreman

Naaman Gambill Greening Programs Coordinator

Thomas Costanza Floriculture Foreman

Melanie Harding Program Manager

Koch Unni Floriculture Foreman

Avery Hurst Development Coordinator

Linda Allen Floriculturist

Katherine Schultz Operations Manager

Kathy Cahill Floriculturist

Ray Jorgensen Floriculturist Stephanie Koeller Floriculturist

Martin Laird Koldyke Juan Salgado Michael P. Kelly Superintendent & CEO

Sebastian Ritte Floriculturist

Adam Schwerner Director, Department of Natural Resources

Gustav Roman Floriculturist

Rahm Emanuel Mayor, City of Chicago

John Schneider IPM Specialist Rob Sproule Jr. Tree Surgeon Peter Vrotsos Floriculturist Sally Ann Wheeler Floriculturist

The Garfield Park Conservatory is cared for in partnership by the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance and the Chicago Park District. The Park District maintains the facility and grounds, cares for the botanical collections, and develops seasonal flower shows for the Conservatory. The Alliance presents public programs, special events and exhibits, and mobilizes the Conservatory’s resources to serve the local community.

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300 North Central Park Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60624–1945 Telephone 773.638.1766 garfieldconservatory.org