Our 2020 Giving Challenge Story

Prior to the 2020 Giving Challenge, The Children's Garden operated almost entirely as a hands-on and in-person endeavor.  Our story was like so many other small businesses that had to rapidly adapt during the COVID-19 lockdown in order for our team to collaborate effectively from separate houses.  Current and former staff and volunteers devoted their time, effort, and ingenuity to re-imagine and reformulate our in-person events and activities, in order to create an entire day of virtual nature challenges for children and their family to participate from home.  We learned (and taught each other!) how to use new technology, and how to interpret and use social media metrics to increase our reach as an organization.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, in 2020 we had our most successful Giving Challenge in the history of our nonprofit, despite having no in-person community event and having to rely on newly utilized digital channels to communicate with our supporters. Before matching done by The Patterson Foundation, we received $8,362.00 from 86 donors! We also received $2,100 as an organization in special prizes from The Community Foundation.  These funds were crucial in converting our programs to be safer during the height of the pandemic and the cost of maintaining The Garden's play structures and sculptures during a period of lower attendance. ​

​We are thrilled to host an in-person all day community event on Tuesday, April 26th, at our beautiful Garden. The day will have a full schedule of nature and art programs and attendance will be free for everyone, so that as many people as possible have a chance to see firsthand what we have to offer.  By donating during the 2022 Giving Challenge, you can support The Children's Garden as we continue to develop new ways to foster creativity, an understanding of nature, a love of reading, and kids' curiosity for the world around them. 

#Be The One to help keep our magical doors open in the 2022 Giving Challenge!

​