Please Join Us!

The Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation’s 2023 gala will be a bash like no other – we’re celebrating our 75th Anniversary, and you’re invited to the party! Please join us on Saturday, October 14, for this very special occasion, replete with fine food, sparkling drinks, and live music in the garden. We are especially delighted this year to be honoring the Arboretum’s longstanding friend, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County, Fifth District.

A cocktail reception will kick things off at 5:00 p.m. and will take place on our brand-new Welcome Plaza, while an exclusive VIP reception will begin at 4:00 p.m. A sumptuous al fresco dinner will start at 6:00 p.m., lit by the glow of bistro lights, candles, and starlight. Dancing, awards, and anniversary surprises will follow. You don’t want to miss our 75th Anniversary festivities! Please kindly RSVP by September 27.

Your presence is requested as we recognize Supervisor Barger for her exceptional support of the Arboretum. The L.A. County-Arboretum Foundation partnership has flourished under her leadership and is a model of what a productive public-private collaboration can do for the public good. Additionally, Supervisor Barger’s dedication to ensuring that all have access to nature has positively impacted the thousands who annually visit the Arboretum.

Please know that you will not only be contributing to a memorable night for Supervisor Barger, but you also will be making this critical fundraiser a success. All proceeds go toward the care and preservation of the Arboretum’s beautiful gardens and historic structures, along with enabling us to expand our engaging education programming for youth and adults. With your assistance, we aim to do even more in the next 75 years!

Bubbly, anyone? Cheers to seeing you here on October 14!

Ticket and Sponsor Information

Your support will greatly assist in making the Arboretum’s mission a reality now – and for the future!

Individual tickets are $375 each, while VIP tickets are $675. Sponsorships run from $2,500-$25,000.  By sponsoring the Arboretum’s 75th Anniversary Gala, you and your organization will be connecting to new audiences via visibility opportunities. For more information about sponsor benefits, click here. You can purchase tickets/sponsorships here.

If you have any questions or wish to be added to the guest list, please contact Judith Hamilton-Márquez, Development Manager, at judith.marquez@arboretum.org or call 626.566.3707.

About Our Honoree

Supervisor Kathryn Barger is a longtime friend of the Arboretum and a passionate advocate for parks, recreation, and open space. Since 2016, she has represented the Fifth Supervisorial District, the largest in Los Angeles County, which includes 20 cities and 83 unincorporated communities. Supervisor Barger has spent more than three decades in public policy and public service at the County, including 15 years as the Chief Deputy in her predecessor’s administration until her election to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in 2016.

Over the years, Supervisor Barger has partnered with the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation on various initiatives to make nature more accessible to the public, enhance the visitor experience at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, and promote events for the enjoyment of all in the community. Most recently, Supervisor Barger allocated $1 million in County funding toward the Arboretum’s transformative Visitor Plaza entrance project – the new plaza was dedicated this June and provides state-of-the-art visitor amenities and ADA-accessible pathways, among other benefits.

Our remarkable honoree was also instrumental in securing critical County funding to restore and renovate Baldwin Lake at the Arboretum, ensuring that this beloved landmark will be available for generations to come. (The project involves deepening the lake, restoring historic shoreline walls, improving water management and conservation, and cleansing urban runoff entering the lake.) Enhancements to idyllic Tule Pond are also part of the overall Baldwin Lake project. In addition, as a fan of live music and a supporter of the arts, Supervisor Barger has hosted five annual summer “Live at the Arboretum” concerts in collaboration with the Arboretum Foundation and Pasadena Symphony and POPS.

The Arboretum Foundation is truly fortunate to have such a visionary partner, committed leader, and champion of nature. We look forward to raising a glass in Supervisor Barger’s honor at our glittering gala!

GALA COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs
Annette Castro Ramirez
Pamela Hillings Tegtmeyer
Susan Kranwinkle

Members
Peggy Dark
Annette Ermshar, PhD
Heidi Hood
Karen Hudecek
Gale Kohl
Ilona Linden
Sussy Nemer
Eva Quan
Peg Rahn