“My Garden” Program Expands Access to Selby Gardens for Kids, Families

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has launched a new program to provide annual memberships to children and their families who might not otherwise have an opportunity to visit the Gardens.

Selby Gardens has partnered with several nonprofit agencies that serve local youth to provide the memberships to underserved families in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The yearlong family memberships will allow them to visit the Gardens at any time, 364 days a year. The new My Garden program is made possible by a grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

“Providing this opportunity for individuals in our community who might not otherwise come to Selby Gardens is exactly what Marie Selby would want,” says Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Selby Gardens. “We envision this program growing in years to come—both in programming and participants. One of the great aspects of our Master Plan is that by having more capacity, we will be able to connect more of our community with Selby Gardens and our mission.”

Families from Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Child Protection Center, Girls Inc., Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Robert L.. Taylor Community Center, Unidos Now, and Visible Men Academy will participate in the inaugural year of the My Garden program.

“If you like to visit Selby Gardens, just think about all of the different features that inspire, educate, and even awe you,” says Gulf Coast President|CEO Mark Pritchett. “Now think about a child experiencing that for the very first time—and then getting to come back over and over! This new program will introduce so many more children to the delight and power of nature, right in their own backyard.”

One particularly cool element of the My Garden program: The family membership will automatically renew for children and families who visit the Gardens four times during their year-long membership.

“Selby Gardens is a regional treasure, both as an urban, bayfront oasis and as a respected center for research and education,” adds Pritchett. “We love the idea that more community members will come to think of Selby Gardens as ‘my garden.’”