WHAT:

Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden hosted their biggest annual fundraising event – the Mounts 24th Annual Spring Benefit – at the Garden itself on Sunday, April 7, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm.  The theme was “The Florida Garden.”

The renowned fine jewelry designer, Mish Tworkowski, who has garnered a discerning international following for his statement-making designs, and his partner in business and life, Joseph Singer, who sits on the Board of Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden were the chairmen for the event, which included cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and an extensive silent auction of rare and exotic plants, orchid and other garden inspired items for the home.

The evening included brief remarks from Mounts Interim Co-Director Misty Stoller: 

“We are incredibly grateful to this year’s chairmen, Mish Tworkowski and Joseph Singer.  Their generosity and dedication to making this event so successful can be seen through the wonderful supporters who have turned out tonight, the beautiful and thoughtful details throughout the cocktail party and one of our most bountiful silent auctions we have had.”

On behalf of Mish and Joseph who were unable to make it at the last minute due to a death in their family, Krista Fragos, their colleague from Mish Fine Jewelry, relayed the following sentiments:

“It is an honor for Mish and Joseph to co-chair this year's Annual Spring Benefit for Mounts Botanical Garden.  As a jewelry designer, Mish is often inspired by the natural and horticultural world in his designs.  Both he and Joseph are passionate about the important role botanical gardens and horticulture play in their personal lives, the life of their communities, as well as the overall well-being of the planet. Gardens delight, educate, inspire, and shelter people both emotionally and physically. As we move further into the 21st Century, their importance will continue to grow both as a sanctuary and a classroom.”  She also added a special thank you to the entire garden team for pulling together such a beautiful event.

Rebecca Doane, the President of the Board of Mounts, also remarked: “This year, Mounts Botanical Garden embarks on a ground-breaking journey as it begins the process of creating a new Master Plan. The implementation of this plan will make the next several years the most important and transformative moment in the history of Mounts, so we are so grateful to this evening’s supporters for joining us at the Spring Benefit.”  She encouraged guests to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Garden's 25 beautiful display gardens and take time to chat with members of Mounts’ incredible horticultural team.

The event raised record-breaking funds to support maintaining the Garden’s 20-acre tropical oasis, youth programs, and community outreach.

More than 200 people attended the event.

WHO:

Misty Stoller and Marc Birch, Mounts Interim Co-Directors, Rebecca Doane, President of the Board of Directors of Mounts, Brenda Callway, Whitney and Jon Clay, Kim and Rob Frisbie, Ellen and David Gildea, Allison Gulbrandsen, Tom and Carol Kirchoff, Karen Klopp, Melanie and Roger Lawson, Helena and Roman Martinez, Liza and Jon Mauck, Leroy and Mimi McMakin, Nick Mele, Susan Meyer, Peggy Moore, Tierney and Tim O’Hara, Daphne Nikolopoulos and Peter Lioubin, Kim Richter, , Diane and Tony Rutgers, Hillary Thomas, Wally and Betsy Turner, Steve and Stephanie Shafran, Aimee and Scott Sunny, Lisa Walker, Bea Welch and more.

More Details:

The wonderful silent auction delighted both the inveterate gardener as well as the non-green thumb lovers of beauty. A diverse selection of exotic and must-have items that all come from Florida included:

+ Rare Specimen Orchids donated from the finest orchid growers in Florida

+ A garden consultation with the amazing Mounts Botanical Garden Horticulturalist Joel Crippen.

+ A selection of beautiful home and garden items from the finest designers in the Palm Beach region, including Mimi McMakin, Meg Braff, Alessandra Branca, Danielle Rollins, Julia Amory, Mary Mahoney, and Sara McCann, among others.

+ A collection of special plants and shrubs perfect for inside the home or outside in the garden.

+ A special book signing of Palm Beach Living by best-selling author Jennifer Ash Rudick and renowned photographer Nick Mele.

+ A portrait by celebrated lifestyle, fashion, and interior design photographer Nick Mele.

+ A pair of 18k gold and diamond Mish Fine Jewelry earrings.

The Mounts Spring Benefit featured a return visit by DiVine, a character from Disney’s Animal Kingdom that is heavily dressed in vines and plants and walks on high stilts so her height is between 7 and 16 feet depending on what she is doing with her hands and legs. Guests also enjoyed Mount’s monumental outdoor sculpture exhibition currently on view through May 12^th:  ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN, featuring 20 larger-than-life sculptures merging art and nature created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box. 

About Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:

With a mission to inspire and educate through nature, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Visitors to this 20-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas containing more than 7,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including Florida natives, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, bromeliads, and much more. Mounts Botanical is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.mounts.org.

Photos by Capehart (ID’s included in dropbox):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ic6p840ed9hslgrsa9z6h/ABnAsa1KnqVrns61oOBlRAg?rlkey=lmhnu3m6pfmt4ka0hdamynoon&dl=0

Media Contacts:

Blair Brindley

Blair Brindley Public Relations

917.721.7231 / [email protected]

Gary Schweikhart

PR-BS

561.756.4298 / [email protected]