Brooklyn Botanic Garden Presents
Passport to Summer

Annual Fundraising Event

WHAT: Hailed as the premiere NYC event for young professionals, Passport to Summer is one of the Garden's signature events. The atmosphere is filled with excitement, romance, and fun. Plus, Passport to Summer has earned a reputation for love—it seems every year a couple announces their engagement on this magical evening!

Transported to a setting of exotic botanical treasures and unparalleled beauty right in the heart of Brooklyn, guests will stroll through BBG's world-famous gardens as the sun sets, enjoy a lavish supper on the lawn, and dance under the stars. In this sublime atmosphere, visitors can welcome summer with a festive botanical cocktail created by Erin Williams, mixologist and brand ambassador for Cointreau®. Refreshing to the palate and easy to make at home, this signature Passport to Summer cocktail—the Mount Gay ginger daiquiri—is made with Mount Gay Eclipse® Silver rum and Cointreau and blended with fresh thyme and ginger. This year, the beer for the event is provided courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery.

The evening is a major fundraising event for the Garden. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on fabulous prizes in the silent auction, including a tasting and tutorial by the Moore Brothers Wine Company in Manhattan, which will host up to 30 guests in its special event space; a two-night stay at the Sunset Beach Hotel on Shelter Island (in Long Island); dinner and drinks for four people at acclaimed Manhattan restaurant Bateaux New York; and a fabulous four-night stay at the McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.

WHY: Passport to Summer raises funds and awareness for the Garden's award-winning Children's Environmental Education programs. Each year, these programs reach more than 150,000 children through intensive outreach to the area's most underserved schools. These programs give many urban children their first thrill of learning about plants and science. The programs also provide children with lessons about the value of hard work and persistence.

WHO: BBG enthusiasts, supporters, and visitors from throughout the city are expected to attend the event.

WHEN: Thursday, June 25, 2009 | 6:30 to 11 p.m.

WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, NY

CONTACT: Leeann Lavin, 718-623-7289; Kate Blumm, 718-623-7241

For more information and to purchase tickets and ticket packages, please visit: bbg.org/passporttosummer.