ABOUT
HISTORY
Friends of the National Arboretum
Since its beginning, FONA has raised funds for projects around the Arboretum like the Capitol Columns, Flowering Tree Walk, and Springhouse Run stream restoration. FONA also supports the Arboretum’s research, plant explorations, and collections maintenance.
Washington Youth Garden

POWER OF FONA
Power of Partnerships
In 2021, FONA ensured access to greenspace by supporting the Arboretum’s COVID-19 management strategy to ensure the grounds were open and safe for over 700,000 visitors. We also invested in education by laying the groundwork for a treetop canopy trail at the Arboretum to complement our environmental education efforts. FONA strengthened local partnerships by collaborating with 52 local organizations to help us meet the needs of our community.
Power of Programs
We adapted our education programs in 2021 to fit our community’s needs and began celebrating Washington Youth Garden’s 50th Anniversary. FONA also provided more opportunities for people to connect with nature by providing more unique recreation programs and public events.
Green Ambassadors developed new skills & addressed food insecurity in their communities
Grow@Home garden science kits shared with DC students
pounds of produce harvested & donated to local families
VALUES
Land
A connection to the land fosters the mental, physical, and spiritual wellness of individuals, communities, and the planet.
Learning
Experiential learning encourages creativity, strengthens problem-solving skills, and inspires lifelong curiosity and engagement.
Collaboration
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts: we are stronger and more impactful when we work collaboratively with each other and the communities we serve.
Responsiveness
We better meet the needs of our communities by strategically responding to our changing world.
Anti-Racism
We acknowledge the history and harms of systemic racism and recognize our duty to take action to support the reconnection of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to the land.
Solidarity
Amplifying underrepresented voices by creating space for constructive conversations and actions ensures universal access to the Arboretum and its resources.
Joy
Sharing joy through our work connects us with others and creates positive change.
OUR STAFF

Craven Rand
Executive Director

Susan Chapin
Operations Manager

Caryn Sykes
Bookkeeper

Cathy Kerkam
Director of Philanthropy and Communications

Beatrice Trapasso Dermer
Director of Foundation and Government Relations

Anne McGarvey
Marketing & Communications Manager

Claire Alrich
Development Officer

Claire Broderick
Membership Program Manager

Brianne Studer
Director of Programs

Allie Arnold
School Garden Program Manager

Ashley Rattanawan
School Garden Program Manager

Christin Riddick
Green Ambassador Program Manager

Ehren Vance
Youth Program Coordinator

Emilia Kawashima
Garden Coordinator

Xavier Bure Quijano
Garden Manager
Benedict Payne
Recreation Program Coordinator
Breyonna Evans
Venue Rentals Coordinator
James Crawford
Garden Assistant
Mariyah Whitley
Garden Assistant Coordinator
Stephanie Mui
Venue Rentals Coordinator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Stevens, Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District
Board Chair
Martha Van Dale, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Vice Chair
Virginia Kromm, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Treasurer
John Cooney, Venable LLP, retired
Secretary
Robert Bartlett Jr., The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co.
Zandra Chestnut, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Lynne Church, Landscape Designer and Energy Executive and Attorney, retired
Elizabeth M. Dugan, MD, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Chandler Goule, National Association of Wheat Growers
Jennifer Hatcher, Food Marketing Institute
Grant Leslie, Glover Park Group
Anne MacMillan, Invariant, Food and Agriculture Practice
Bill Matuszeski, Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia Citizens Advisory Committees
Scot Medbury, Quarryhill Botanical Garden
Paul Meyer, Morris Arboretum, retired
Tim Petri, Former U.S. Representative, Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District, ret.
Pamela Raymont-Simpson, The Garden Club of America
Lucy S. Rhame
Barbara Shea, Founding President, Casey Trees
Lou Slade, Gorove Slade Associates
Peggy Strand, Venable LLP, retired
Nzinga Tull, Jackson and Tull
Tuckie Westfall, KraftHeinz, Director of Federal Government Affairs, retired
SUPPORTERS
Thank you to all our supporters for our 26th Annual Dinner Under the Stars this September! Interested in sponsoring or attending this event? Learn more at our Dinner page.
Sponsor list as of May 2, 2022.
Scarlett Oak $50,000
Robert and Kate Bartlett/Bartlett Tree Experts
American Elm $15,000
Corn Refiners Association
Nutrien
Lacebark Pine $10,000
Bayer
Syngenta
Red Maple $5,500
Abbott
Anne MacMillan and Invariant
BASF
National Association of Wheat Growers
Thank you to all who supported our Solstice Soiree this past September! We were excited to share the National Arboretum during this event and are grateful for our dedicated supporters.
Title Sponsor
Bartlett Tree Experts
Benefactor
Bayer
International Paper
Nutrien
Syngenta
Patron
Abbott
CoBank
Corn Refiners Association
CropLife America
FMI – The Food Industry Association
Anne MacMillan and Invariant
National Association of Wheat Growers
Table Sponsor
American Seed Trade Association
BASF
Consumer Brands Association
Michael Torrey Associates
W.S. Jenks & Son
Our David Fairchild Society commemorates the work of David Fairchild, who spent his life exploring the world, collecting plants, and sharing them throughout America and the world. He brought us many plants and foods that are staples in American culture, such as ornamental cherry trees and Meyer lemons. Learn more on our Support page.
Donor list as of April 5, 2022.
David Fairchild $50,000+
Robert and Kate Bartlett
John and Julie Hamre
Azalea $25,000
Betty and Alex Boyle
Lynne H. Church
Linda and John Derrick
Elizabeth M. Dugan
Lucy S. Rhame
Tuckie and Don Westfall
Boxwood $10,000
Anonymous
Colien Hefferan and Hollis Summers
Barbara and James Shea
Margaret Strand
Ken and Dorothy Woodcock
Helena Zinkham
Magnolia $5,000
Nancy and John Bryson
Bonnie and Louis Cohen
John F. Cooney
Louisa Copeland Duemling
Lynne and Joseph Horning
Liza and Andrew Labadie
Rafael V. Lopez and Linda I. Marks
Laura Mansilla and Asa Harrington
Bill Matuszeski and Mary Procter
Peter and Jainel Morris
Catherine and Chip Nottingham
Carey Paquette
Dede and Tim Petri
Robert and Nancy Shoemaker
Beth Wehrle
Crapemyrtle $2,500
Anonymous
Barry L. Abel
Harold Belcher
Sally Donner and Kenneth Briers
Charles and Linda Findlay
Anne and Til Hazel
Sherrill Houghton
Sheldon and Audrey Katz
Anne MacMillan and Tim Bass
Kevin and Marla McIntosh
Tuuli Mooney-Schindler
Jacqueline E. Pechmann
Ellen C. Petersen
Craven Rand
Jeffrey K. Stine and Marcel C. LaFollette
Holly $1,200
Bentley Andrews
Suzy Bakshian and Vinny Chiappinelli
Marion S. Ballard
Suzie and Rich Bissell
Wendy Blair
Deborah E. Bowles and Derik Burgess
Michael and Samantha Brickman
Laura and Guy Cecala
Martha Van Dale
Gail Charnley Elliott
Diana Ferris
Joseph and Agatha Francis
Barbara W. Gould
Chandler Goule
Bean Granger
William Greer
Frank Guzzetta and Paul Manville
Robin Langfan Hammer
Lindsay Shea Hardesty
Corbin C. Harwood
Jennifer and Christopher Hatcher
Gene Hix
James Hughes
William Inglee and Jane Madden
Virginia Kromm and Joe Shultz
Jack Krumholtz
Annetta H. Kushner
Jean and John Lange
Amanda Leiter and Sambhav Sankar
John C. MacMillan, Jr. and Emily Stopa
Sara Mills Mazie
Kathleen McNamara
Anita Menghetti
Mollitor Family
Pamela and Byrne Murphy
Mary Eugenia and Theodore Myer
Shirley and Frank Nicolai
Kat and Andrew Norris
Elizabeth L. Nottingham
Heather Paradise
John and Melissa Pflieger
Barbara Pierson
David Pierson
Joanna Pierson
Barbara Price
Karen Rand
Pamela Raymont-Simpson and Charles J. Simpson, Jr.
Bob Schramm and Nancy Williams
Liz Shriver and Jon Blake
Louis and Nancy Slade
Kimberly and John Snedden
Michael G. Stevens
Robert and Ann Thompson
Elsa B. Williams
With appreciation to those who have generously supported FONA through estate gifts:
Anonymous
Harold Belcher
Lynne H. Church
John F. Cooney
Robert C. Daniels, Jr. & Richard R. Beman, Jr.
Ann Fessenden Clymer
Dorothy Kidder
Herman W. Koch & Rosalie Martin Koch
Frederick G. Meyer
Edith N. K. Meyer Trust
Michael G. Stevens
PARTNERS



Potomac Unit






Trinidad Campus


Hendley Elementary School

Armstrong Elementary and Middle School

DC Beekeepers Alliance


