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Annual Giving

ar·bo·re·tum \ärb-rtm\ n, pl ar·bo·re·tums or ar·bo·re·ta (-t)
A place where an extensive variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes.

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000

 

 

Click here to contribute to our Annual Giving Campaign.

We recently received a call from a new neighbor who had driven past the Morris Arboretum’s entrance and called to ask “what an arboratorium is about.” You might be surprised at how often that question occurs, and how challenging it can be to answer! What is the Morris Arboretum all about?

The easiest answer, of course, can be found in a dictionary. As defined above, the Morris Arboretum is about a place. The Morris Arboretum is an historic public garden in northwest Philadelphia, encompassing 92-acres of display gardens, exhibits, architecture, sculpture, and natural features, as well as, an additional 74-acres used primarily for research.

The dictionary reference goes on to characterize an arboretum as a place where a “variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes.” The Morris Arboretum is about plants, as well. The Arboretum’s plant collection contains over 13,200 labeled and scientifically documented trees and shrubs from around the world.

A dictionary definition cannot, however capture one of the most important aspects of the arboretum — an arboretum is about people. Last year, we welcomed more than 85,000 visitors through our gates, offered curriculum-based tours to almost 5,000 schoolchildren, provided 115 educational offerings to 1,800 participants of all ages, coordinated over 45 public special events, and received 474 volunteers who provided 10,214 hours of service.

Most significantly, the Morris Arboretum is about you. Your belief in the significance of the Morris Arboretum’s mission enabled us to raise over $390,000 last year, providing essential general operating funds to support the Arboretum. The 2006-07 Annual Giving Campaign bar has been raised even higher, with a goal of $400,000. Sending your gift today enables the Morris Arboretum to continue its critical mission of promoting an understanding of the relationship between people, plants, and place.

With deepest appreciation for your support!

Paul W. Meyer
The F. Otto Haas Director
&
Elizabeth F. Somers, Chair
Annual Giving Committee

Click here to contribute to our Annual Giving Campaign.