ABOUT
OUR PURPOSE
Mission
FONA supports and celebrates the science, beauty, and community impact of the U.S. National Arboretum through education, engagement, and access to nature.
Vision
Our vision is to create an extraordinary local and global public experience through the U.S. National Arboretum, where people of all ages can learn, connect, and find joy in nature, supported by world-class research, expanded education, enhanced facilities, and greater community access.
Values
Connection to the Land: We recognize the land as the foundation of our work and commit to its responsible stewardship.
Collaboration: We achieve more together by working across teams and with external partners, building relationships grounded in respect and integrity.
Community Engagement: We foster transparent and constructive relationships with communities, advancing shared priorities with a spirit of joy.
Learning & Innovation: We embrace curiosity and creative problem-solving, fostering a culture of continuous improvement that values transparency and diverse perspectives.
Stewardship: We manage financial, human, and natural resources responsibly, ensuring long-term sustainability and accountability.
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.
STEWARDING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL BONSAI & PENJING MUSEUM
Friends of the National Arboretum is honored to carry forward the legacy of the National Bonsai Foundation (NBF), which concluded its operations at the end of 2025 after more than four decades of extraordinary service.
Since its founding in 1982, NBF has been essential to building and maintaining the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum, fostering international goodwill and a deep respect for the art of bonsai.
FONA extends its sincere gratitude to the NBF Board and supporters for their enduring dedication to this living art form. We are deeply mindful of the trust they have put in FONA to sustain NBF’s mission to preserve and promote the art of bonsai in America. The bonsai and penjing collections will continue under the expert care of the U.S. National Arboretum’s staff, as it has since 1976. As part of this transition, NBF will transfer the majority of remaining assets to FONA to directly support the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and ongoing bonsai education. These funds will be specifically dedicated to the continued care, growth, and improvement of the museum.
This transition was the result of a request from Dr. Richard Olsen, Director of the U.S. National Arboretum, to consolidate nonprofit engagement under Friends of the National Arboretum. This unified approach will streamline communications, expand community engagement, and enrich the visitor experience, while allowing the U.S. National Arboretum to focus on horticultural excellence and discovery.
FONA embraces this new expanded role to support the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the U.S. National Arboretum, helping them flourish in the decades ahead. If you are interested in making a restricted donation to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at this time, you can do so online through this form. For other giving options, please contact Claire Alrich at 202-918-1868 or calrich@fona.org.
LEGACY OF SUPPORT
Friends of the National Arboretum was founded in 1982 as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. As its primary nonprofit private partner, FONA has a long history of supporting the U.S. National Arboretum.
In 1986, FONA funded the Arboretum’s first Lahr Native Plant Intern. FONA continues to support two internship programs at the National Arboretum in present day to help cultivate the skills and passion to care for plants and communities in the next generation.
FONA hosted the first Garden Fair & Plant Sale in 1989. This event continues to thrive and has grown into one of FONA’s largest annual events.
In 1990, FONA brought the Capitol Columns to the National Arboretum in an effort championed by Ethel Garrett. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy walking amongst these magnificent structures that stand sentinel in the Arboretum’s Ellipse Meadow.
FONA adopted the Washington Youth Garden (WYG) in 1996. WYG was already in its 25th year of operation at the time, and FONA has continued offering garden education programs in this space every since.
Opening day of the Capitol Columns, photo courtesy of the National Arboretum.
In 2002, FONA instituted field trip programs in the Washington Youth Garden and started school garden partnerships for D.C. schools. These programs have grown into FONA’s School Garden Support Programs, which connects thousands of D.C. youth annually to agriculture and garden education.
In 2013, FONA introduced the Green Ambassador Program, a paid summer internship in WYG for high school students. Interns spend summers developing their skills in gardening, carpentry, and teamwork through this program.
FONA provided funding and volunteer support from 2014 to 2023 for the Arboretum’s Springhouse Run stream restoration project. Visitors can appreciate the fruits of this labor as they sit in the shade of trees growing along the stream and watch beavers play in the water near their den.
In 2017, FONA began managing private venue rentals, sharing a portion of the revenue with the Arboretum.
FONA established the annual Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching in 2018. This four-day professional development course in WYG inspires and connects teachers and school staff to more fully integrate their school garden into daily educational activities.
Two students hold kale grown in the Washington Youth Garden in 2002.
In 2020, FONA introduced the Educator Coaching Program to offer comprehensive school garden support for D.C. partner schools.
Starting in 2021, FONA began offering more visitor programs and events year-round to showcase the Arboretum’s beauty in all seasons.
In 2024, FONA piloted extended evening hours on select spring and summer evenings. In 2025, FONA expanded access to the Arboretum even further by keeping the Arboretum open an extra three hours every day, all summer long.
Visitors enjoy a concert during summer evening hours in 2025. Photo by Zak Khaliqi.
OUR STAFF
Jeanne Braha
Executive Director
Brianne Studer
Chief Operating Officer
Caryn Sykes
Bookkeeper
Claire Broderick
Operations Manager
Beatrice Trapasso Dermer
Director of Foundation and Government Relations
Aditi Iyengar
Communications Coordinator
Anne McGarvey
Marketing & Communications Manager
Claire Alrich
Development Officer
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
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, Chandler Goule Consulting LLC
Jennifer Hatcher, Food Marketing Institute
Jim Hughes, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum – ret.
Anne MacMillan, Invariant, Food and Agriculture Practice
Eric Michael
Melinda Peters, Casey Trees
Harrison Pittman
Melissa Pflieger
Catherine Robbins, Vault Consulting
Keith Sellars
Barbara Shea, Founding President, Casey Trees
Michael Stevens
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, 2025
David Fairchild $50,000+
Anonymous
Robert and Kate Bartlett
Azalea $25,000
Anonymous
Betty & Alex Boyle
Lynne H. Church
Linda & John Derrick
Lucy S. Rhame
Barbara & James Shea
Boxwood $10,000
Anonymous (2)
Barry Abel & Stephen Morris
Duanjie Chen
Rafael V. Lopez & Linda I. Marks
Eric Michael & Craig Kruger
John & Melissa Pflieger
Joanna Pierson & Leon Kenworthy
Margaret Strand
Tuckie & Don Westfall
Ken & Dorothy Woodcock
Magnolia $5,000
Danielle Brabazon & John Marino
Elizabeth M. Dugan
Karen & Dan DuVal
Gail Charnley Elliott
Kathryn & Michael Hanley
Emily & Ryan Jae
Gary & Natalia Kulka
Liza & Andrew Labadie
John & Jean Lange
Bill Matuszeski & Mary Procter
McNeal & Pam McDonnell
Kevin & Marla McIntosh
Anina & Nate Mensah
Nancy & Robert Shoemaker
Luise Strauss
Amy A. Titus
Crapemyrtle $2,500
Anonymous
Harold Belcher
Martha Van Dale
Sally Donner & Kenneth Briers
Frank Guzzetta & Paul Manville
Lindsay Shea Hardesty
Jennifer & Christopher Hatcher
Kevin Hong
Sherrill Houghton
Russell & Sarah Inman
Sheldon & Audrey Katz
Virginia Kromm & Joe Shultz
Marcel C. LaFollette & Jeffrey K. Stine
Anne MacMillan & Tim Bass
David & Sara Mollitor
Robert K. Oaks
Holly $1,200
Anonymous (2)
Emily Enderle & Sean Babington
Marion S. Ballard
Wendy Blair
Debbie Cameron
Zandra & Dennis Chestnut
Diana Clagett & Alexandra Knop
Jeanne Connelly & Marty Scherr
Jonathan Coopersmith & Lisa Halperin
Leanna & Thomas Fenske
Diana & Peter Ferris
Charles & Linda Findlay
Joseph & Agatha Francis
Christine Freidel & Douglas Varley
Bean Granger
Elizabeth Holleman & Barlow Burke
James Hughes
William Inglee & Jane Madden
Dan & Liza Kazor-Christovich
Jennifer Levin
Sophia McCrocklin & William Isaacson
Anita Menghetti
Penny Morrill
Mary Eugenia & Theodore Myer
Heath Nash
Georgia Chafee Nassikas
Shirley Nicolai
Maureen Orth
Sabrina Pacifici
Douglas Padgett & Marsha Massey
Heather Paradise
Melinda Peters & Matt Blanchette
Ellen C. Petersen
Craven Rand
Richard Remigio & John Healey
Catherine Robbins
Bill & Donna Roberts
Louis & Nancy Slade
Jerry Slominski & Janet Gregor
KT Sparks & Nick Auclair
John C. MacMillan, Jr. & Emily Stopa
Edward Szrom & John Geiger
Robert & Ann Thompson
Jamie & Jay Vroom
James Wascak
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, 2025
With appreciation to those who have made a provision in their estate planning for FONA:
Anonymous (16)
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*
Edith N. K. Meyer*
Judith A. Hecht
Vicki J. Hicks
James Hughes^ & Willie Harley III
Mandy Hursen
Leslie Frances Hill Jenkins
Dorothy Kidder*
Herman W. Koch & Rosalie Martin Koch*
Colette Dawn Marchesini
Frederick G. Meyer*
Susan H. Robeson*
Michael G. Stevens^
E.J. Truax
^ Board/Former board
* Deceased
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, 2025
Foundations
Anonymous
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
The DECK Foundation
Dimick Foundation
Corina Higginson Trust
International Monetary Fund
The Kay Family Foundation
Mars Foundation
Charles H. Miller Family Foundation
Jean T. and Heyward G. Pelham Foundation
Pepco Sustainable Communities
Nora Roberts Foundation
Frank & Evelyn Schmidt Family Foundation
The Alice Shaver Charitable Trust
Venable Foundation
Government
DC Commission on Arts and Humanities
DC Department of Energy & Environment
DC Department of Health
DC Department of Parks and Recreation
National Park Service
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
University of the District of Columbia
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Sponsor list as of August 22, 2025
Scarlett Oak $50,000
Robert and Kate Bartlett / Bartlett Tree Experts
American Elm $15,000
Lacebark Pine $10,000
CoBank
Corn Refiners Association
CropLife America
Nutrien
Flowering Cherry $5,000
Agri-Pulse Communications
Amazon
Amy A. Titus
BASF
Congressional Federal Credit Union
Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA)
Farm Credit
FGS Global Food Team
FMI – The Food Industry Association
Invariant / Anne MacMillan
NASDA
National Association of Wheat Growers
Torrey Advisory Group
Platform for Agriculture + Climate Transformation
USA Rice Federation
Tuckie and Don Westfall
Flowering Dogwood $1,500
Marion Ballard
Lynne Church
Conroy Landscape Architecture
Jeanne Connelly and Marty Sherr
Russell and Sarah Inman
Ralph Lopez and Linda Marks
Penny Morrill
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Capital Area Garden Clubs
North American Millers Association
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
ARBORETUM PARTNERS
Potomac Unit
