" I am observe to start out my term as Chairman of the AFE Board of Trustees . The Endowment has been a part of my life sentence for many years . As I watch in the footsteps of my father , Del Demaree past Chairman ( 1992 - 1993 ) , I ’m reminded how he instilled in me and our troupe , Syndicate Sales , the importance of giving back and build into the manufacture that has served us so well . Serving through AFE is the unadulterated opportunity to do both .
" In 2021 , the Endowment will turn 60 . That ’s quite a milepost ( and I should jazz , I ’m hitting the same milestone ) . As we look back over the past 60 years , we have accomplish so much . We ’ve funded over $ 14 million in research , awarded nigh $ 2 million encyclopaedism , and contributed over $ 1.5 million in educational Hiram Ulysses Grant money . Thousands of bookman , university research programs , diligence programs , and ultimately consumer have benefited from the generosity of soul and companies who consider in the piece of work the Endowment does . Being a part of that legacy is exciting and humbling all at the same sentence . The floriculture macrocosm has sure changed in 60 years . Advancements in areas like engineering and environmental protections have made it both easier and tough to grow and market products and provide consumer with an experience they need to ingeminate again and again .
" Then there was COVID . While the human beings seemed to come to a grinding halt , our industry experienced two positives . First , COVID confirm what most of us already knew – flowers and plants ( both bedding and fleeceable ) better our genial wellness . They make us felicitous , calm us down , and reduce our stress . The trifecta for a good life ! secondly , many florist and garden centre of attention feel an unexpected spate in business . lunge into what feel like groundhog day at home , consumers begin to crave something that made them well-chosen and reduced their stress , like working in their garden or buying flowers . What most consumers do n’t have sex is that inquiry conducted through AFE put up to the quality of the product they bought and grants and scholarships awarded by AFE helped check the people who helped help the sale .
" What AFE does is so vital to the manufacture ’s provision chain and the folks who enter in it . Everything we do sum around floriculture and environmental gardening for the benefit of growers , middleman , retailer , allied industry organizations , and the all - important consumer . I ’m emotional to continue to be a part of this work and am committed to go forward to make awareness for this awesome brass . "
For more informationAmerican Floral EndowmentT : +1 ( 703 ) 838-5211www.endowment.org
