Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Children's Garden
Bevin Cline · Jennifer Eisenstadt · Kathryn Mattis
Co-Chairs
Joe and Carol Reich and the Reich Family
Honorees
5:30 p.m. Champagne Reception in the Children’s Garden
6:30 p.m. Cocktails on Lily Pool Terrace
Hosted by the Fabulous Beekman Boys, founders of Beekman 1802
8:00 p.m. Dinner on Cherry Esplanade
9:30 p.m. After Party with cocktails, dessert, and dancing
Butterfly Migration by Processional Arts Workshop
Festive garden party attire. Garden boots encouraged to better explore the gardens.
Complimentary valet parking.
Through June 12, help the Garden raise funds by bidding on unique items and experiences at the Spring Gala online auction. Visit Charity Buzz to make your bids today!
About the Honorees
Families of means can afford to send their children to private schools or relocate to a neighborhood of affluence where the public schools have greater resources. The poor cannot. We recoiled against this injustice. We made it our struggle. —Joe and Carol Reich
Brooklyn Botanic Garden honors Joe and Carol Reich and their family for their visionary work ensuring quality education for students in underserved neighborhoods and for their leadership in public education reform. In 1992, the Reiches founded the Beginning with Children School in south Williamsburg. They built the school from the ground up, working closely with the community on a daily basis to serve both children and their parents. Joe Reich has had a long, successful career in finance, as founder of Reich & Tang and in many other roles. Dr. Carol Reich has done extensive work in education leadership, having served as president of the Lexington Center and consultant at Bank Street College of Education. Joe and Carol met at Cornell University and have been married for 58 years. They and their family have been extraordinary partners with BBG’s education programs for almost 50 years.
Children’s Garden Centennial
In 2014, BBG celebrates the 100th anniversary of its renowned Children’s Garden, the oldest continuously operating community garden for children in the world. A century ago, botanic gardens were largely scientific institutions, and many remained so for decades. BBG’s founding commitment to set aside land on its site for city children to grow and harvest vegetables and learn about the natural environment was nothing short of revolutionary. The pioneering Children’s Garden program has thrived ever since, sparking a lifetime of environmental awareness and stewardship in generations of city children and teens. The Children’s Garden serves as the foundation of all youth education programs at BBG, which extend throughout the Garden and into the communities of Brooklyn, offering access to nature and supplemental science education to more than 150,000 children and families annually.
For additional information, please visit the Children’s Garden 100th anniversary website.
Children’s Garden 100th Anniversary & Gala Sponsors
Additional After Party Sponsors
Dr. Markus & Cristin Bolsinger John Willian John & Nancy Levene Lloyd & Cassandra Metz
Special thanks to Gala in-kind donors
Beekman 1802
Brooklyn Brewery
Gudrun Sjödén
Mast Brothers Chocolate
New York Spring Water
Joe & Carol Reich
Seghesio Family Vineyards