Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens is holding a virtual gala fundraiser, “Broadway at the Bartlett,” on Wednesday night, March 31, hosted by Chuck Scarborough of NBC 4 New York, and featuring a silent auction and the Broadway cast of “Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations.” — an announcement from the Bartlett Arboretum
Tickets for the online event, which runs from 6:50 to 7:30 p.m., are priced anywhere from “a donation of your choosing” to $500, which “includes a complimentary bottle of wine or spirits, two stemless wine glasses and a charcuterie board for two DELIVERED to your home within 10 miles of the Bartlett. Choose from Josh Cabernet Sauvignon, Josh Prosecco or Luksusowa Vodka.”
“Please view our silent auction items, which will open on [Saturday] March 27 and close at 8 p.m. on March 31,” the organizers said on Bartlett’s website.
“Please consider a donation to our ‘paddle raise’ this year, which is to make the Herb Garden accessible for all abilities. This includes widening and replacing the pathways to connect with those of the Sensory Garden.”
You can get tickets and register for the event here.
The registration Web page says: “Our video presentation will be shown on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 6:50 p.m. — on this site.”
The same Web page also shows auction items, including a $150 gift card for Sam Bridge Nurseries, potted cactuses and herbs, massage sessions and even a “catered chef’s dinner at your home for 10.” The price for that last one is $500; the Web page says it’s valued at $1,000.
From the Bartlett Arboretum gala Web page
Some of the items being auctioned off at the Bartlett Arboretum Gala. You can bid now. Bidding ends at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, the night of the virtual gala.
About the Bartlett Arboretum
The website of the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens describes the North Stamford institution this way on its website:
“[T]he Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens is a natural preserve like no other in this region. The property features 93 acres of irreplaceable open space highlighting the best of what Connecticut’s native landscape has to offer: magnificent award-winning Champion trees, charming gardens, wildflower meadows, red maple wetlands and boardwalks, woodland walking trails, varied wildlife and native habitats.
“A wonderful getaway from the hustle and bustle of daily life, we serve as a leading recreational and educational resource for area residents and visitors of all ages. For weekend gardeners to budding young botanists, the Bartlett offers a place to relax, learn, and unplug.”
The organization says it’s mission “is to cultivate and develop a diverse collection of trees, gardens, and plants for all to explore, enjoy and study; and to provide through education and stewardship, a greener, healthier, more beautiful environment.”
Honorees
Polly O’Brien Morrow
Polly O’Brien Morrow
Polly is Program Manager, Global Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy for Pitney Bowes Inc.
Her responsibilities include corporate contributions, foundation grant-making, employee giving, disaster response, nonprofit relations, and strategic employee community involvement.
She is vice president of the Pitney Bowes Foundation, and vice president of the Pitney Bowes Relief Fund, a public charity that supports employees and others whose lives have been disrupted by natural disasters or personal tragedies.
Polly has a passion for the environment and is immediate past chair of the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens.
Cheryl Carter
Photo from the Bartlett Arboretum website
Cheryl Carter
Cheryl began volunteering at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens in 1997. Her volunteer activities consisted of co-chairing two symposiums with well-known speakers on the subject of botanical gardens.
She also worked with a group of volunteers to initiate the summer concert series held on the great lawn at the Arboretum. She served on the gala committee and other fund-raising events including the Arboretum’s Garden Tour committee.
She assisted at the Arboretum’s annual plant sales, the annual Arbor Earth Day festival, maintained the honey bee hives in the meadow for several years and volunteered to mentor new beekeepers each year.
Cheryl was elected to the Bartlett Arboretum Board of Directors in 2001. She was employed by IBM Corporation until her retirement.
You can find more information about the honorees here.