Saturday, May 18, 2024
11am – 2pm
San Francisco Botanical Garden, Celebration Garden

Join us on Saturday, May 18, 2024 for Gala for the Gardens, the Gardens of Golden Gate Park’s signature fundraising event of the year. Alexis Madrigal, co-host of KQED’s Forum, will serve as emcee for an afternoon when we celebrate all that we love about the Gardens and in the company of friends who share our appreciation of the natural world.

We invite you to support the Gardens by sponsoring this year’s event with the purchase of a table at a level that works for you. Your sponsorship is a chance to introduce new friends to the Gardens and to reconnect with long-time friends over a gourmet lunch al fresco in the Celebration Garden. Additionally, your guests will have the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind auction lots, all in support of the mission of the Gardens of Golden Gate Park.

Gala for the Gardens is our annual fundraising event to support plant conservation and collections, lifelong learning and engagement, and making the Gardens accessible to everyone. We appreciate your consideration of support and look forward to celebrating with you on May 18!

Gala Honorees

Dr. Frank Almeda

This year, we are thrilled to honor individuals whose contributions over many years have made the Gardens of Golden Gate Park what they are today. We will show our great appreciation to Dr. Frank Almeda, Curator of Botany Emeritus at the California Academy of Sciences, who served on our board for 25 years and remains an indispensable partner and resource to the Gardens. Despite “retiring” nine years ago, Frank continues to be a mentor in evolutionary botany, inspiring the next generation of scientists to enter the field.

Friends of the Japanese Tea Garden

We will also be raising our glasses to the Friends of the Japanese Tea Garden. Dedicated volunteer stewards of the Japanese Tea Garden, the Friends have served as passionate ambassadors and advocates, raising critical funds for special projects, such as the restoration of the 107-year-old Pagoda and Plaza which visitors will now enjoy when it reopens this year.

Gala Co-Chairs

Adam Greenspan


Adam Greenspan is a directing partner at PWP Landscape Architecture and has been the lead designer on a wide range of projects including public parks, campuses, mixed use developments, competitions and estates. Adam has collaborated extensively with architects, artists, community groups and public and private owner groups, as well as sub-consultant experts, in the process of realizing exceptional built work. Adam’s recent projects include: the Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore, The Salesforce Transit Center Park in San Francisco, Glenstone in Potomac, MD, Colorado Esplanade in Santa Monica, Constitution Gardens on the National Mall in Washington DC, the Newport Beach Civic Center Park in Newport Beach California, and Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, Singapore.

Susan Zetzer


Susan Zetzer is a results driven senior sales executive combining 30+ years experiences in consultative sales sector with exceptional skills in sales, process improvement, strategy, account infrastructure, and working in large collaborative organizations. Susan joined KPMG in 2001 and after moving through multiple roles, she now serves as KPMG lead partner to Fortune 100 companies, both domestic and global. Susan has served on the board of Jewish Vocational Services (jvs.org) as well as Congregation Sherith Israel (US National Register of Historic Places 2010), involved in board governance, fundraising, and capital campaigns.

Gala Committee

Don Baldocchi
Julie Baldocchi
Drew Denbo
Elizabeth Ireland
Cristina Jones
Eva Monroe
Claire Myers
Jennifer Petersen
Sarah Ryan
Ian Shea
Sandra Swanson
Ruth Wilcox

Thank You Gala Sponsors!

Champion
Delle Maxwell & Pat Hanrahan
Susan Zetzer

Conservator
Tish & James Brown
Anki & Larry Gelb
Jennifer Petersen
Sarah & Stuart Ryan
William & Michelle Tai
Ken Wilcox
Ruth Wilcox

Gardener
Don Baldocchi
Julie Chase Baldocchi
Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Clara Barbaccia
Eliza Brown
Marcia & John Goldman
Elizabeth & Paul Ireland
Carol Izumi & Frank Wu
Monica Martin
Larry Pitts
Sandra Swanson

Sower
Tess Barbieri
California Academy of Sciences
Jane Chin & James Wong
Pamela Rummage Culp
Friends of the Japanese Tea Garden
Adam Greenspan, PWP Landscape Architecture
Zane Gresham
Kathleen Hormel
Stephanie Linder & Eamon O’Byrne
Eva Monroe
Ingrid Tauber & Frank Taforo
Duchess CT / Cheryl Traverse
V. Fei Tsen
Gene & Suzanne Valla

Media Sponsor

 

Thank you to our event sponsors as of March 25, 2024

Become a Sponsor

Join us for this joyous event and support the Gardens!

A note about event tickets/sponsorship and donor advised funds:
I.R.S. regulations prohibit the purchase of any portion of an event ticket with a donor advised fund. For information on how you can support the Gala with a grant from your donor advised fund, email Bekah Paige at bpaige@gggp.org.