The Friends of the Public Garden hosted the 2013 Green & White Ball on Friday, May 17 at the Taj Boston hotel to raise funds to support the organization’s mission to preserve and enhance Boston’s three historic downtown parks: the Boston Common, the Public Garden and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. This year’s black tie gala was co-Chaired by Allison Achtmeyer, Kate Gilbane, Katherine O’Keeffe and Annie Sacerdote and was attended by 200 guests, and raisied $370,000 for the parks.
Beyond the annual stewardship work in the parks, the Friends has made great progress on a significant improvement project on the Common to renovate the Brewer Fountain Plaza and Liberty Mall parkland stretching from Tremont Street up to the base of the State House. This is the most ambitious project in our 43-year history and has already transformed the deteriorated and most heavily used corner of the Common into one of the most striking gathering places in the city. The plaza is now adorned with café tables, chairs, umbrellas, a food truck, a “reading room”, chess and checkers games, and piano music at lunchtime. Some of the proceeds from the Ball will support the final phase of the project which will commence this fall. The final phase includes restoring the historic iron fence along Tremont Street, reclaiming this area once again as parkland and not part of the busy street.
All of the Friends work is made possible through contributions from community members and events like the Green & White Ball. “The Green & White Ball is a wonderful opportunity to bring together so many people who truly care about preserving or improving the quality of these green spaces. We are so very grateful for everyone’s generous support.” stated Friends Executive Director, Elizabeth Vizza.
About the Friends of the Public Garden:
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The Friends of the Public Garden is a non-profit citizen's advocacy group formed in 1970 to preserve and enhance the Boston Common, the Public Garden and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in collaboration with the Mayor and the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Boston. A model public-private partnership and the first in the region, the Friends number over 2500 members and many volunteers.
