Annual Report
Every year, FOGP raises new funds and makes friends and invests strategically in park preservation and stewardship.
We encourage you to join in the fun and support the park projects that interest you most!.
2016 Annual Report
“To ensure the preservation and continuation of the public benefits of Garfield Park through enhanced funding, effective advocacy and expanded stewardship.”
Over the past nineteen years the Friends of Garfield Park, Inc. has become a key community asset. Due to the strong neighborhood partnerships and FOGP Board leadership, our list of accomplishments is as follows:
- In 2016 raised $395,000 in support consisting of $315,000 in cash contributions and $80,000 in kind. Since 1999, combined totals amount to $2,585,000 in cash and $1,065,000 in-kind, totaling overall, $3,650,000.
- Garfield Park Endowment Fund balance as of January 1, 2016 is $1,300,000.
- Supported programs and made grants to Garfield Park totaling $100,000 and over $1,100,000 since 2001. 2016 investments included: Garfield Alive, STARS, Music in the Gardens, Evening for America w/ISO, Garfield Park intern, Conservatory Plantings, Program Support for the Arts Center, NJTL, Playball Indiana, Shakespeare in the Park, Koontz Symposium, Garfield Karate, Ghoulish Garfield and Christmas at Garfield to name only a few.
- Coordinated 2016 Reforest Garfield in April. Over 250 trees were planted n the park with assistance of lead partners KIB, UIndy, and Citizens Energy.
- Continued our commitment of over $20,000 maintenance support to the Sunken Garden Fountains.
- In 2015 assisted neighbors and friends with efforts in restoring the Historic Trolley Stop Shelter in the park.
- Led efforts to rebuild the Bean Creek Bridge. This 2009 project raised $200,000 in cash and in-kind support. Generated community support to see $1.5 million in improvements to the Garfield Park Sunken Gardens Fountains in 2013.
- FOGP has been bequeathed a major portion of the estates of Lucille Wahl and Marie Shock, amounting to approximately $600,000 in administrated funds.
The FOGP is an integral part of the future of Garfield Park. In 2017, our organization will continue development efforts through our Garfield Alive program and a new effort, Garfield Naturally. This will be a comprehensive campaign to tie together the nature elements in the park. Further we lead a $300,000 effort to preserve the MacAllister Center for the Performing Arts in the park.
THANK YOU from the Friends of Garfield Park, Inc. to all of the volunteers and sponsors for Garfield ReForest 2016 and the Great Indy Clean Up! It was a huge success and one of the largest volunteer events in the park’s history. Thanks to over 250 volunteers who planted 200 trees in less than 3 hours – WOW!
We are grateful to our sponsors, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. Indianapolis Rotary, Indianapolis Power & Light Company and the board of FOGP. Shout out to the Garfield Park Neighbors Association, Friends of Garfield Park, Inc. members, and all of the incredible students and volunteers from Emmerich Manual High School, Roncalli High School, University of Indianapolis, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and more!
FOGP has received a grant toward the continuation of the Garfield Alive program for the purpose of connecting community and keeping Garfield Alive. The grant is from “Frank Curtis and Irving Moxley Springer Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, in loving memory of Irving and Frank Springer.” The primary use of this grant is to continue to expand partnerships in accomplishing the FOGP initiatives and increase park attendance and program participation.
A Look Ahead
The FOGP is an integral part of the future of Garfield Park. In 2017, our organization will continue development efforts through our Garfield Alive program and a new effort, Garfield Naturally. This will be a comprehensive campaign to tie together the nature elements in the park. Please join with us and support the Friends of Garfield Park. Your contribution today will build for tomorrow. For information call: 317-840-8111.
We couldn’t have done it this year without the support of The Indianapolis Foundation, A CICF affiliate!
