Philanthropy

The Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.  Funds raised through our show and auction are put to use first for the benefit of our members. From time to time the Board of Trustees is also able to make contributions to worthwhile causes. Over the years we have made many such contributions.

Scholarships and education

1996 – $500 scholarship to Phillip Hamilton, for the study of orchids at University of Florida

1998 – $500 scholarship to Phillip Hamilton, for the study of orchids at University of Florida

2011 – $5,000 donation to scholarship fund at Cardinal Gibbons High School

2012 – $360 donation to Bonnett House School Program

2015 – 100 Encyclia tampensis given away as part of Broward 100 celebration

2015 – $1000 to Friends of the Fakahatchee

2016- $100 Carmela Orchid Repopulation project

2016 – AOS Student Judge Scholarship awarded to Joan Connors

2017 – AOS Student Judge Scholarship awarded to Sandi Block-Brezner, Tony Millet

2018 – $500 donation to support orchidspecies.com

2019 – AOS Student Judge Scholarship awarded to Paul Gumos

2019 – $500 donation to support orchidspecies.com

2020 – $275 University of Florida

2021 – $275 Master gardener Scholarship to Gina Alzate

2021 – $100 Scholarship in-kind award of native orchids to Philip Ferrera

2022 – $500 donation to support orchidspecies.com

American Orchid Society

1996 – $100 for Benjamin Kodama Dendrobium Alliance Award

1997 – pledged $75,000 over five years supporting reading room and fountain

1998 – $100 for Benjamin Kodama Dendrobium Alliance Award

2000 – $50 for Benjamin Kodama Dendrobium Alliance Award

2011 – $1,000 Henley Honorarium

2017 – $500 for Mary and Paul Storm Schomburgkia Hybrid Annual Trophy

2020 – AOS Centennial Celebration Fund  $6,000.00

West Palm Beach Judging Center

1995 – $1000

1997 – $1000

1999 – $1000

2015 – $1000

2016 – $1000

2017 – $1000

2018 – $1000

2019 – $1000

2023 – $1000

Marie Selby Botanical Garden

1995 – $250 (speaker donation)

1997 – $100 (speaker donation)

2010 – $25,000 FLOS sponsored a new orchid alcove inside the Gardens’ Tropical Conservatory.  The orchid alcove, located directly across from the Conservatory’s revolving door, highlights the tremendous diversity of the orchid family (which includes more than 25,000 distinct species excluding hybrids) with a continuously changing display from Selby Gardens’ seven greenhouses. FLOS members were invited for an opening celebration which we incorporated into a west coast ramble. We enjoyed tours of the gardens and their private orchid work areas; we listened to a lecture by the scientists doing research into orchid conservation and propagation; and finally we enjoyed an appreciative  luncheon hosted by the Garden.

Broward County Library

2013 – $15,000 The Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society made a donation to the Broward County Library system for the purchase of orchid-related materials. The funds are being used to acquire books, ebooks, videos, software, and other orchid-related material that would be of interest to residents of Broward County. A bookplate in each purchased item commemorates the donation and provides information about FLOS.

2014 – $1000 Lighthouse Point Library

2014 – $1500 City of Lakland Park Library

Memorials

1995 – $50 to AOS in memory of Bill Carter

1997 – $50 to AOS in memory of Jack Cavell

1997 – $50 to AOS in memory of Sara Julia Little

1998 – $100 to AOS in memory of Marian Sheehan

2011 – $500 to AOS in memory of Sylvia Hill

2011 – $500 to Bonnet House in honor of Polly Fletcher

2012 – $100 to AOS in memory of Dave Levine

2014 $200 to Abandoned Pet Rescue in memory of Cal Steinmetz

2015 – $250 to AOS in memory of Barbara Ansely

2019 – $100 to AOS in honor of Earl Barker

2019 – $100 to AOS in honor of Lydia Davis

2020 – $100 to AOS in honor of William Newton

2020 – $100 to AOS in honor of Richard Sedlak

2020 – $100 to AOS in honor of Marlene Isaacs

2020 – $500 to AOS in honor of Chuck McCartney

2022 – $250 to AOS in honor of Gigi Granger

2022 – $500 to AOS for Janet McMillan

2022 – $500 to AOS for Col. Ken Kone

2023 – $500 to AOS for Robert Henley

Flamingo Gardens

2017 – $10,000 contribution towards wetlands and native orchids restoration project

2018 – $500 contribution towards orchid shade house

2022 – $2000 to Flamingo Gardens

Bonnet House

2017 – $500 for their Hurricane Irma recovery and clean up funds.

2017 – $500 for Commemorative Coral Stone in honor of our Diamond Jubilee Celebration.

2015 – $6,250 to support equipment needs and orchid house renovations

Fairchild Tropical Garden

2018 – $350

2019 – $2,500 in support of the Million Orchid Project

2020 – $2,500 in support of the Million Orchid Project

2023 – $1000 in support of the Million Orchid Project

Christ Lutheran Church

2016 – $20,000

Million Orchid Project

2019 – donated orchids for restoration to Broward College

2019 – donated orchids for restoration to City of Fort Lauderdale

Donated Honorariums

2013-Mike Owen, Friends of Fakahatchee

2018-Mike Owen, Friends of Fakahatchee

2020-Mary Gerritsen, Orchid Conservation Alliance

2021-Dr. Harry Gallis, The American Society

2022-Mike Owen, Friends of Fakahatchee