ALEXANDRIA, VA – Make a difference in the floral industry and show your support of the American Floral Endowment (AFE) by attending or sponsoring the 2014 annual fundraising dinner on Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort in Marco Island, Fla. The dinner is held in conjunction with the Society of American Florists' annual convention.
“The annual dinner is AFE’s biggest fundraising event and offers guests the perfect opportunity to learn about the latest Endowment efforts while simultaneously connecting with hundreds of floral industry professionals,” AFE Chairman Paul Bachman said. “By purchasing a dinner ticket or becoming a sponsor, you’re directly helping to support and expand AFE’s research and educational efforts to benefit all industry segments."
Past AFE research has led to the invention of the cold chain, techniques for extending the vase life of flowers, controlling powdery and downy mildews and much more.
At the dinner, the Endowment will unveil a new and updated website, announce new named funds, recognize donors reaching new giving levels and more.
**Sponsorship Opportunities Available**
Information is available online to purchase a dinner ticket ($175) or become a dinner sponsor, a great way to visibly support AFE even if you cannot attend the dinner. Tickets and sponsorships are also available by emailing AFE Executive Director Debi Aker or calling (703) 838-5211.
There are several sponsorship levels available, and all sponsors are recognized during the dinner, in print materials, on the website and in the AFE Bulletin, which reaches more than 10,000 industry members.
The success of the dinner would not be possible without the sponsors who lend their names and financial support to the event. Sponsorships help AFE offset dinner expenses, freeing more funding for research and grants.
At the 2013 dinner, 220-plus attendees raised more than $30,000 for the floriculture and environmental horticulture industry.
About AFE
Watch AFE’s new Murder, Sex, Greed Awareness Video!
The American Floral Endowment is dedicated to advancing the industry through funding floriculture research, educational grants and scholarships. More than $15 million has been funded toward research projects benefiting the entire industry, and more than $500,000 has been funded in scholarships designed to attract and retain the future leaders of the industry. To learn more about AFE visit www.endowment.org or www.fb.com/americanfloralendowment.
Source: The American Floral Endowment
