Fact Sheet

BASICS

National Garden Clubs, Inc., (NGC) is a not-for-profit educational organization headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden. The organization comprises 50 state garden clubs and the National Capital Area, 6,218 member garden clubs and 198,595 members. In addition, NGC has 447 international affiliates from Canada to Mexico and South America, from Bermuda to South Africa, Australia and Japan, as well as 149 national affiliates within the United States.

MISSION

National Garden Clubs provides education, resources and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.

PURPOSE

To coordinate the interests and activities of state garden clubs with similar organizations in the U.S. and abroad
To aid in the protection and conservation of natural resources, to promote civic beautification and encourage the improvement of roadsides and parks
To encourage the establishment and maintenance of botanical gardens, arboreta and horticultural centers for the advancement of science, enjoyment and education of the public
To advance the study of gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design and horticulture and assist deserving students through college scholarships in these fields of endeavor
To cooperate with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture, conservation, environmental protection and beautification

HISTORY

The first garden club in America was founded in January 1891 by The Ladies Garden Club of Athens(Georgia). On May 1, 1929, 13 federated states became charter members at an organizational meeting in Washington, D.C. In 1935, the National Garden Clubs established headquarters at Rockefeller Center in New York City. A permanent headquarters building in St. Louis, Mo., was dedicated May 10, 1958.

HEADQUARTERS

4401 Magnolia Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63110-3492

WEB ADDRESS

www.gardenclub.org

PRESIDENT

Barbara D. May

MEDIA CONTACTS

Patricia Binder, 636-441-0022, or Debra Finkel, 314-878-1213, Finkel & Binder Communications LLC, agent for National Garden Clubs.

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