Verna Cook Garvan
Giving Life to the Garden
The Gardens started out as a dream of Verna Cook Garvan and has become a living testimony to nature and one woman’s dream of developing a place where people can enjoy nature’s beauty at its finest.
The Gardens are dependent upon private support in the fulfillment of its mission. Private funds are essential in ensuring the Gardens are here for generations to enjoy.
You can play a vital role in giving life to the Gardens by making a contribution in various ways such as through our annual fund, planned giving, donations, memorials, scholarships, and corporate memberships. Each donation helps further our mission and continues Mrs. Garvan’s dream of a world-class botanical garden.
Naming Opportunities
- Magnolia Room.......................$100,000
- Garden Railroad......................$10,000
- Deck and Fire Pit....................$15,000
- Food Court Deck......................$15,000
- Pavilion Terrace (2).................$75,000 each
- Border Steps.........................$80,000
- Entry Waterfall......................$35,000
- Garden of the Pine Wind.............$600,000
- Hot Spring...........................$10,000
- Sunrise Bridge.......................$55,000
- Pond Overlook........................$35,000
- Island of the Floating Stone.........$50,000
- Koi Pond............................$100,000
- Koi Pond Meadow......................$30,000
- Floating Cloud Bridge................$90,000
- Reflecting Pool......................$80,000
- Pavilion Lawn........................$75,000
- Camellia Trail......................$125,000
- Bulb Meadow..........................$60,000
- Ellipse..............................$60,000
- White Oak Walkout....................$60,000
- Azalea Glen..........................$40,000
- Singing Springs Overlook.............$30,000
- Singing Springs Gorge...............$120,000
- Trapp Mountain Overlook..............$45,000
- Old Brick Hill.......................$80,000
- Wildflower Meadow....................$75,000
- Rock Garden..........................$75,000
- Rock Garden Walk.....................$80,000
- Twin Rock Ridges....................$475,000
- Mallard Cove Wall....................$85,000
- Fern Glade...........................$75,000
- Serenity Circle.....................$465,000
- Children's Garden Overlook...........$40,000
- Pavilion Kiosk........................$30,000
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Giving Opportunities
- Honorary & Memorial Gifts
- Gifts to Garvan Woodland Gardens Programs
- Deferred Gifts & Bequests
- Corporate Sponsorship
Your tax-deductible donations can be made by check, credit card, or appreciated securities. There can be a significant tax advantage to giving appreciated securities to the Gardens. You are not only able to obtain a full charitable deduction on your income tax return, you may also save capital gain taxes as well. To make a gift using appreciated securities you must first contact Development Director, Bob Bledsoe (bbledsoe@garvangardens.org) to secure necessary routing information.
Honorary & Memorial Gifts
You can make a meaningful gift that will be a lasting tribute in honor or in memory of people whose lives have been touched by the Gardens. Garvan Woodland Gardens needs your support and tributes are a great way to memorialize someone while helping us grow.
These honorary and memorial gifts can be designated to any of the following areas: endowment, education, special events, Anthony Chapel, Evans Children’s Adventure Garden, horticulture, and scholarship interns.
Some gifts can be designated for naming opportunities for amounts as little as $1,000 to as high as $1,000,0000. For naming opportunities or memorials, call the Gardens for the latest available features.
Gifts to Garvan Woodland Gardens Programs
Education
Did you first fall in love with nature as a child running through the woods, building forts in your parent’s backyard, or growing flowers and vegetables in a garden? We know how nature influences various areas of our lives. The Gardens are helping to ensure children who visit the Gardens will have a fun and educational nature experience in our Evans Children’s Adventure Garden and through educational programs. Supporting the education program and Evans Children’s Adventure Garden is sure to provide hours of learning opportunities for the young and young at heart.
Horticulture
Throughout the year, the Gardens put on large and beautiful horticulture displays. In spring, the Gardens plants over 75,000 tulips for the months of March and April. In the summer, thousands of wildflowers and summer perennials are brought in to ensure color during the hot summer months. Fall brings forth thousands of mums and festive autumn colors. Each season in the Garden is different. With your support, the Gardens can continue to provide a colorful sanctuary for all who visit.
Scholarship Interns
The Gardens hires as many as ten of the state’s highest ranked and best students enrolled in college courses to work in areas such as horticulture, visitor services, and maintenance. These interns contribute to all areas of the Gardens including landscape design and plant selection and help make the Gardens flourish in all season. Contribute now to assist with scholarships for deserving students who are willing to learn in a hands-on environment. These internships provide aspiring professionals with valuable knowledge and experience and are a vital part of keeping the Gardens looking their best during peak season.
Planned Gifts & Bequests
Deferred gifts, both large and small, play a critical role in ensuring the future of Garvan Woodland Gardens. Invested over time, any size gift can make a significant impact for the Gardens. Additionally, life income deferred gifts can generate an income stream for your life, and provide for the Gardens at your death.
Deferred gifts can be tailored to each unique circumstance and have become important because they provide long-term support to the Gardens, yet save donors surprising amounts in estate, gift, and income taxes.
Bequests, including beneficiary designations, are the simplest and most straightforward way for leaving a gift to Garvan Woodland Gardens. Bequests can be unrestricted or earmarked for special purposes.
Corporate Sponsorships
Corporate sponsorships are a great way to advertise your organization and give something back to your employees. Some of the many corporate sponsorships available include our annual Holiday Lights Display, 4th Friday Series, and much more! Corporate sponsorships are available at levels starting at $1,500 to $5,000 and include advertising and promotion of your organization as well as FREE admission for your employees and their spouse and children. Many corporate employee members tell us that they enjoy walking on our beautiful trails after work to relieve stress before going home. Other benefits for your organization could include complimentary use of our meeting room or other Garden venues, passes to special events and a link to your website. Please call Susan Harper at (501) 262-9603 or (800) 366-4664 for more information.
Make your gift today and harvest the benefits for years to come.
Select an area of interest for your support:
Horticulture: Each year, the Gardens plants over 70,000 tulips for the spring season. Donate now to assist in the purchase of bulbs.
Scholarship Interns: The Gardens hires as many as ten of the state's highest ranked and best students enrolled in college courses to work in areas such as horticulture, visitor services and maintenance. Contribute now to assist with scholarships for deserving students who are willing to learn in a hands on environment.
Unnamed features: For amounts a little as $1,000 to as high as $1 million, your name can be attached to a favorite Garden feature. For naming opportunities or memorials call the Gardens for the latest available features.
You can remember the Gardens uniquely through inclusion of the Gardens in your will, gift annuities, real estate, and personal property donation.
Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the University of Arkansas Foundation, Inc. We accept donations for operations, endowment, special projects, memorials, and planned gifts to name a few. If you are interested in making a donation, click on the icon above and choose a project for your support.
Development Director, Bob Bledsoe
501-262-9610 or 800-366-4664
bbledsoe@garvangardens.org