Friends Of Robinson Gardens Inc

TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT FIRST ESTATE OF BEVERLY HILLS FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

RESTORATION - THE ORGANIZATION RAISES MONEY FOR THE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS ESTATE. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND RELATED CLOSURE OF THE GARDENS TO THE PUBLIC FOR MOST OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD ITS TWO LARGE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS, GARDEN TOUR AND PATRON GALA. CONSEQUENTLY, THE FUNDS THAT THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO DONATE TO THE GARDENS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND EMPHASIZED GARDEN MAINTENANCE RATHER THAN RESTORATION OR BEAUTIFICATION. NONETHELESS, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO FUND THE RE-UPHOLSTERY OF THE OUTDOOR FURNITURE ON THE BACK PATIO AND OF TWO CHAIRS IN THE POOL PAVILION, PURCHASE OF NEW DRAPES FOR THE LOGGIA, REPAIR AND EXPANSION OF THE AVIARY, SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS TO THE ICONIC BLUE POOL PAVILION DOORS, EXTERIOR PAINTING OF THE SERVANT'S QUARTERS, UPGRADE OF THE WI-FI THROUGHOUT THE ESTATE, AND RENOVATION OF THE SEWING ROOM INTO THE NEW ARCHIVE ROOM. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO FUND PHASE TWO OF THE HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEY (HALS). THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS IS IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR MUSEUM ACCREDITATION. THE HALS REPORT WILL PROVIDE THE LANDSCAPE DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY FOR THE MUSEUM STATUS APPLICATION.

CHILDREN'S OUTREACH PROGRAMS - DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE NOT ABLE TO COME TO THE VIRIGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS FOR ON-SITE INSTRUCTION IN BOTANY AND NUTRITION. SOME OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS DECIDED TO RE-WRITE THE CURRICULUM FOR THE CHILDREN'S SCIENCE PROGRAM AND MAKE IT INTO A SEMI-VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT SCHOOL CHILDREN COULD ACCESS OFF-SITE. THE MEMBERS CREATED A PILOT PROGRAM ON NUTRITION. THEY WROTE FUN-TO-READ STUDY MATERIALS AIMED AT THIRD GRADERS. EACH CHILD WAS SENT A BOX WITH THE STUDY MATERIALS PLUS A LARGE PLASTIC SALAD BOWL FILLED WITH TONGS, PENCILS, PENS, ERASERS, SCISSORS, NUTRITIOUS SNACKS AND RECIPES, AND TWO PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED VIDEOS. ONE VIDEO WAS A TOUR OF THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS AND THE OTHER VIDEO SUPPLEMENTED THE STUDY MATERIALS. THE PILOT PROGRAM WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, 3,000 BOXES HAD BEEN SENT OUT TO SCHOOL CHILDREN, PRIMARILY IN TITLE ONE SCHOOLS AND GROUP HOMES. THE MEMBERS ALSO CREATED A SECOND PROGRAM ON PLANTS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE START OF THE 2021 - 2022 SCHOOL YEAR.

MEMBERSHIP - THE FRIENDS IS A DUES-BASED ORGANIZATION WITH SIX LEVELS OF INCREASINGLY HIGHER DUES REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS. THERE ARE SMALL EVENTS FOR ALL MEMBERS. THE HIGHER LEVEL MEMBERS RECEIVE INVITATIONS TO SPECIAL TOURS AND LECTURES; OUT-OF-TOWN TRIPS TO MUSEUMS, HISTORIC ESTATES, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS; AND AN ANNUAL THANK-YOU DINNER.

EDUCATION - AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE AT THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS. THE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO THE FRIENDS AND TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF PROGRAMS: BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION CLASSES, HOW-TO GARDENING CLASSES, AND LECTURES ON TOPICS RANGING FROM LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INTERIOR DESIGN, THE ARTS, JEWELRY, BIOGRAPHIES, AND THE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.