As cultural attractions, restaurants, places of worship, and other gathering spaces closed their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing became clearer than ever before: the importance of outdoor destinations like the Morris Arboretum.
The Garden Still Grows
The Morris Arboretum’s Resilience Fund seeks to shore up resources to head off future unexpected crises
Published: August 25, 2021
“During this crisis, so many of our visitors have told us that witnessing nature’s resilience and renewal has been very powerful for them,” says Mira Zergani, Director of Development for the Morris Arboretum. “The Arboretum has never been more of a resource for wellness than it has been during these past 17 months.”
From July 2020 to June 2021, this sprawling public garden in Chestnut Hill welcomed more visitors than in any previous year. However, admission revenue came to a temporary halt at the outset of the pandemic when the Arboretum experienced its own months-long closure. Thankfully, those revenue losses were largely offset by alternative resources, including generous gifts from the Arboretum’s family of donors.
Photo by Rob Cardillo Photography.
In anticipation of future uncertainty, the Arboretum has established a new Resilience Fund, which will provide flexible resources that can be drawn upon if unforeseen circumstances present significant challenges to the Arboretum’s operations. These resources would be available to cover vital costs—for public programs, garden maintenance, and staff compensation, among other essential items. The Fund would only be tapped if those circumstances were expected to cause a loss of 10 percent or more of the Arboretum’s operating revenue in a given year.
The Arboretum itself is a place of resilience. But the future is uncertain, and the next major challenge could come at any time. We want to be prepared to face that head-on.” Mira Zergani, Director of Development, Morris Arboretum
The goal for the Resilience Fund is set at $2 million, a sum that would ensure an emergency reserve of at least six months of operating revenue. Friends of the Arboretum have begun rallying behind this forward-thinking priority, led by several inspiring pledges from the Arboretum’s Advisory Board of Managers. Additional support will help reach the goal to safeguard the continued operations of this unique destination, where tens of thousands of visitors of all ages have found refuge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about the Resilience Fund, reach out to Mira Zergani via email at mzergani@upenn.edu.
