ABOUT
OUR WORK
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) showcases the U.S. National Arboretum’s plant collections as a valuable horticultural resource and living museum for all. Serving as the Arboretum’s communicator, community event host, and educational program manager, FONA connects people of all ages to nature, science, and plant stewardship. We also convene partners and public officials who have an interest in horticultural research and the value it brings to our nation’s economy and landscapes.
As its primary nonprofit private partner, FONA has a long history of supporting the National Arboretum and is committed to its future success. Throughout our work, we never lose sight of our goals to:
- Raise awareness of the National Arboretum as a major center for horticultural research that benefits the nursery and landscape industry, the environment, and human health.
- Ensure that the Arboretum’s 451 acres of gardens and collections are accessible to the public, particularly the local community.
- Spotlight the value of plants for our well-being and connect people to nature.
The U.S. National Arboretum spans 451 acres in Northeast Washington, D.C. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it serves as a horticultural research facility and a public green space. The Arboretum manages living collections of woody plants and research fields for breeding plants. It also has a seed bank and one of the world’s most comprehensive preserved plant specimen libraries. The National Arboretum benefits each of us, our community, and the nation through horticultural research and plant conservation.
Top photo: Opening day of the Capitol Columns, photo courtesy of the National Arboretum. Bottom photo: Youth gardening in the Washington Youth Garden circa 1970’s.
LEGACY OF SUPPORT
Here are some key moment’s in FONA’s support of the U.S. National Arboretum:
1982: Founded as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
1986: Funded the Arboretum’s first Lahr Native Plant intern.
1989: Hosted the first Garden Fair & Plant Sale.
1990: Brought the Capitol Columns to the National Arboretum.
1996: Adopted the Washington Youth Garden (WYG) in its 25th year and continued offering garden education programs.
2002: Instituted field trip programs in WYG and started school garden partnerships for D.C. schools.
2013: Introduced the Green Ambassador Program, a paid summer internship in WYG for high school students.
2014 – 2023: Provided funding and volunteer support for the Arboretum’s Springhouse Run stream restoration project.
2017: Began managing private venue rentals, sharing a portion ofthe revenue with the Arboretum.
2018: Established the annual Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching in WYG for D.C. education.
2020: Introduced the Educator Coaching Program to offer comprehensive school garden support for D.C. partner schools.
2020: Launched the FONA Field Notes weekly e-newsletter, marking a broader investment in communications on behalf of the Arboretum.
2021: Began offering more visitor programs and events year-round, to showcase the Arboretum’s beauty in all seasons.
2024: Piloted extended hours on select evenings during the spring and summer.
VALUES
Land
A connection to the land fosters the mental, physical, and spiritual wellness of individuals, communities, and the planet.
Learning
Experiential learning encourages creativity, strengthens problem-solving skills, and inspires lifelong curiosity and engagement.
Collaboration
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts: we are stronger and more impactful when we work collaboratively with our fellow team members, other organizations, and the communities we serve.
Responsiveness
We better meet the needs of our communities by strategically responding to our changing world.
Anti-Racism
We acknowledge the history and harms of systemic racism and recognize our duty to take action to support the reconnection of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to the land.
Solidarity
Amplifying underrepresented voices by creating space for constructive conversations and actions ensures universal access to the Arboretum and its resources.
Joy
Sharing joy through our work connects us with others and creates positive change.
OUR STAFF
Craven Rand
Executive Director
Brianne Studer
Chief Operating Officer
Caryn Sykes
Bookkeeper
Claire Broderick
Operations Manager
Beatrice Trapasso Dermer
Director of Foundation and Government Relations
Anne McGarvey
Marketing & Communications Manager
Claire Alrich
Development Officer
Leandra Nichola
Membership Manager
Allie Arnold
School Garden Program Manager
Emilia “Emi” Kawashima
Garden Manager
Mariyah Whitley
Program Manager
Max Skoglund
Volunteer Coordinator & Garden Educator
Mykaela Brevard
Program Coordinator
Xavier Bure Quijano
Garden Manager
Yalonda Thomas
Visitor Programs Manager
Cherri Wojnar
Garden Educator
Erin Close
Demonstration Garden Assistant
Mara Johnson
Events Coordinator
Nena Burgess
Events Coordinator
Qubilah Huddleston
Assistant Garden Coordinator
Stephanie MacDonald
Events Coordinator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Martha Van Dale, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Board Chair
Virginia Kromm
Vice Chair
Amy A. Titus, Deloitte, Allaire Consulting
Treasurer
John Dillard, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz P.C
Secretary
Robert Bartlett Jr., The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co.
Zandra Chestnut, Resilience Hub Community Coalition
Elizabeth M. Dugan, MD, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Chandler Goule, National Association of Wheat Growers
Jennifer Hatcher, Food Marketing Institute
Anne MacMillan, Invariant, Food and Agriculture Practice
Bill Matuszeski, Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia Citizens Advisory Committees
Eric Michael
Vaughn Perry, Building Bridges Across the River
Melinda Peters, Casey Trees
Melissa Pflieger
Lucy S. Rhame
Catherine Robbins, Vault Consulting
Keith Sellars
Barbara Shea, Founding President, Casey Trees
Louis Slade, Gorove Slade Associates
Michael Stevens
Peggy Strand, Venable LLP, retired
Nzinga Tull, Jackson and Tull
Tuckie Westfall
SUPPORTERS
FONA’s David Fairchild Society commemorates the work of David Fairchild, who spent his life exploring the world, collecting plants, and sharing them throughout America and the world. He brought us many plants and foods that are staples in American culture, such as ornamental cherry trees and Meyer lemons. Learn more at our Support page.
Donor list as of December 31, 2024
David Fairchild $50,000+
Anonymous
Robert and Kate Bartlett
Azalea $25,000
Betty and Alex Boyle
Lynne H. Church
Linda and John Derrick
Lucy S. Rhame
Margaret Strand
Boxwood $10,000
Anonymous (2)
Duanjie Chen
Colien Hefferan and Hollis Summers
Rafael V. Lopez and Linda I. Marks
Eric Michael and Craig Kruger
John and Melissa Pflieger
Barbara and James Shea
Amy A. Titus
Tuckie and Don Westfall
Ken and Dorothy Woodcock
Magnolia $5,000
Barry Abel and Stephen Morris
Bonnie and Louis Cohen
Andrew Curry
Elizabeth M. Dugan
Karen and Dan DuVal
Kathryn Hanley
Ryan and Emily Jae
Liza and Andrew Labadie
John and Jean Lange
Bill Matuszeski and Mary Procter
Tuuli Mooney-Schindler
Peter and Jainel Morris
Craven Rand
Linda and Albert Rosecan
Nancy and Robert Shoemaker
E.J. Truax
Danielle Vermazen
Beth Wehrle
Crapemyrtle $2,500
Anonymous
Harold Belcher
Martha Van Dale
Sally Donner and Kenneth Briers
Frank Guzzetta and Paul Manville
Lindsay Shea Hardesty
Lynne Horning
Sherrill Houghton
Sheldon and Audrey Katz
Marcel C. LaFollette and Jeffrey K. Stine
Anne MacMillan and Tim Bass
Kevin and Marla McIntosh
Anita Menghetti
Robert K. Oaks
Jacqueline E. Pechmann
Joanna Pierson and Leon Kenworthy
Karen S. Rand
Michael G. Stevens
Cherri and Stan Wojnar
Holly $1,200
Bentley Andrews
Anonymous
Suzy Bakshian and Vincent Chiappinelli
Marion S. Ballard
Wendy Blair
Deborah E. Bowles and Derik Burgess
Susan Chapin
Zandra and Dennis Chestnut
Diana Clagett
Jeanne Connelly and Marty Scherr
Gail Charnley Elliott
Leanna and Thomas Fenske
Diana and Peter Ferris
Charles and Linda Findlay
Joseph and Agatha Francis
Christine Freidel and Doug Varley
Chandler Goule
C. A. Greene
Jennifer and Christopher Hatcher
John Healey and Richard Remigio
Sandy Hecker
Elizabeth Holleman and Barlow Burke
Kevin Hong
Betsy and Bob Huffman
James Hughes
William Inglee and Jane Madden
Virginia Kromm and Joe Shultz
Jennifer Levin
Melanie Lovern
John C. MacMillan, Jr. and Emily Stopa
Sara Mills Mazie
Sophia McCrocklin and William Isaacson
Leslie McKay
David and Sara Mollitor
Mary Eugenia and Theodore Myer
Shirley and Frank Nicolai
Catherine Casey Nottingham
Elizabeth L. Nottingham
Maureen Orth
Sabrina Pacifici
Heather Paradise
Ellen C. Petersen
Diana Prince
Ripley Rand
Pamela Raymont-Simpson and Charles Simpson Jr.
Catherine Robbins
Bill and Donna Roberts
Liz Shriver
Louis and Nancy Slade
Kim and John Snedden
Edward Szrom and John Geiger
Allison Taylor and Ryan Mukherjee
Ann and Robert Thompson
Nzinga Tull
Jamie and Jay Vroom
James Wascak
Val and John Wheeler
Linda A. Winslow
Helena Zinkham
When you include FONA as a beneficiary of your will, you become a member of FONA’s Heritage Society, a group of like-minded individuals invested in the future of the Arboretum. Heritage Society members are recognized for their forward-thinking generosity and included in a number of special events throughout the year. Learn more at our Support page.
Supporter list as of December 31, 2024.
With appreciation to those who have made a provision in their estate planning for FONA:
Anonymous (18)^
Harold Belcher
Daragh Cassidy
Regina Chua
Lynne H. Church^
Ann Fessenden Clymer*
John F. Cooney^
Robert C. Daniels, Jr. & Richard R. Beman, Jr.
Frances Duttkin*
Judith A. Hecht
Vicki J. Hicks
Mandy Hursen
Dorothy Kidder*
Herman W. Koch & Rosalie Martin Koch*
Edith N.K. Meyer*
Frederick G. Meyer*
Susan H. Robeson*
Michael G. Stevens^
E.J. Truax
* Deceased
^ Board/Former board
Thank you to the following foundations and government partners who support FONA’s mission and programs, in particular the School Garden Support Programs, Green Ambassador Program, and the Washington Youth Garden.
Donor list as of December 31, 2024.
Foundations
Anonymous
The Burpee Foundation
The Morris & Gwendolyn
Cafritz Foundation
Capitol Hill Community Foundation
Congressional Sports for Charity
DECK Foundation
Dimick Foundation
William H. Donner Foundation
Humanities DC
International Monetary Fund
International Paper Foundation
Kay Family Foundation
Mars Foundation
National Environmental Education Foundation
Jean T. and Heyward G. Pelham Foundation
Nora Roberts Foundation
Frank and Evelyn Schmidt Foundation
Hattie M. Strong Foundation
Venable Foundation
Government
DC Commission on Arts and Humanities
DC Department of Energy & Environment
DC Department of Health
DC Department of Parks and Recreation
DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs
National Park Service
University of the District of Columbia
US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
US Department of Agriculture, Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
Thank you to the following supporters for sponsoring the upcoming 29th annual Dinner Under the Stars. Pledge your support today to join this growing list of sponsors and to maximize your visibility. Sponsor list as of July 30, 2025.
Scarlett Oak $50,000
American Elm $15,000
Lacebark Pine $10,000
CoBank
Corn Refiners Association
CropLife America
Nutrien
Flowering Cherry $5,000
Agri-Pulse Communication Group
Amazon
BASF
Farm Credit
FMI – The Food Industry Association
NASDA
National Association of Wheat Growers
Amy A. Titus
Torrey Advisory Group
USA Rice Federation
Flowering Dogwood $1,500
Jeanne Connelly and Marty Sherr
Conroy Landscape Architecture
Ralph Lopez and Linda Marks
Penny Morrill
North American Millers Association
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
ARBORETUM PARTNERS
Potomac Unit
