Sunday, April 7, 2024
New Co-Chairs Named & This Year’s Theme Revealed:
‘The Florida Garden’
(West Palm Beach, FL – March 20, 2024) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting their biggest annual fundraising event – the Mounts 24th Annual Spring Benefit – at the Garden itself on Sunday, April 7, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The event will raise important funds to support maintaining the Garden’s 20-acre tropical oasis, youth programs, and community outreach.
Mounts is delighted to announce this year’s distinguished Co-Chairs: the renowned fine jewelry designer, Mish Tworkowski, who has garnered a discerning international following for his statement-making designs, and his partner in business and life, Joseph Singer, who sits on the Board of Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden.
“It is an honor to co-chair this year’s Annual Spring Benefit for Mounts Botanical Garden as I am often inspired by the natural and horticultural world in my jewelry designs,” says Mish. “Joseph and I are passionate about the important role botanical gardens and horticulture play in our personal lives, the life of our communities, as well as the overall well-being of the planet. Gardens delight, educate, inspire, and shelter us both emotionally and physically. As we move further into the 21st Century, their importance will continue to grow both as a sanctuary and a classroom.”
Added Joseph: “Since we moved our home and jewelry studio to Palm Beach in 2021, we have grown to love Mounts and the entire staff that supports this incredible institution. We cannot say enough about how lucky we are to have such an outstanding and beautiful resource so close to home.”
“This year, Mounts Botanical Garden embarks on a ground-breaking journey as it begins the process of creating a new Master Plan,” says Mounts Interim Co-Director Misty Stoller. “The implementation of this plan will make the next several years the most important and transformative moment in the history of Mounts, so we encourage supporters to join us at the Spring Benefit, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Garden’s 25 beautiful display gardens, and take time to chat with members of Mounts’ incredible horticultural team.”
This year’s enchanting Spring Benefit—themed The Florida Garden—will feature an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and wonderful silent auction that will delight both the inveterate gardener as well as the non-green thumb lovers of beauty. A diverse selection of exotic and must-have items that all come from Florida include:
+ Rare Specimen Orchids donated from the finest orchid growers in Florida
+ A garden consultation with the amazing Mounts Botanical Garden Horticulturalist Joel Crippen.
+A selection of beautiful home and garden items from the finest designers in the Palm Beach region, including Mimi McMakin, Meg Braff, Alessandra Branca, Danielle Rollins, Julia Amory, Mary Mahoney, and Sara McCann, among others.
+ A collection of special plants and shrubs perfect for inside the home or outside in the garden.
+ A special book signing of Palm Beach Living by best-selling author Jennifer Ash Rudick and renowned photographer Nick Mele.
+ A portrait by celebrated lifestyle, fashion, and interior design photographer Nick Mele.
+ A pair of 18k gold and diamond Mish Fine Jewelry earrings.
The Mounts Spring Benefit will feature a return visit by DiVine, a character from Disney’s Animal Kingdom that is heavily dressed in vines and plants, and walks on high stilts so her height is between 7 and 16 feet depending on what she is doing with her hands and legs. Guests can also enjoy Mount’s monumental outdoor sculpture exhibition currently on view through May 12th: ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN, featuring 20 larger-than-life sculptures merging art and nature created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box.
This year’s benefit invitation was inspired by Mish’s personal collection of vintage Florida post cards. VIP Tickets to attend the Mounts Spring Benefit 2024 are $500 each, and Supporter Tickets are $300. For ticket and sponsorship details, please visit
https://SPRINGBENEFIT24.givesmart.com.
Spring Benefit sponsors so far include:
Heliconia: Randy & Rebecca Doane; Orchid: Edith Dixon; Plumeria: Laurie & Peter Grauer, Callie Baker Holt, Betsy & Paul Shiverick; Hibiscus: Bruce Addison, Merrilyn Bardes, Vicky & Sam Hunt, Diane & Anthony Rutgers; Jasmine: Elizabeth & T. Clark Akers, Deborah & Chuck Barish, Gretta & Jack Curry, Don & Allison Gulbrandsen, Beatrice & Randolph Guthrie, Heather & Patrick Henry, Jane Hill, Melanie & Robert Lawson, Beverly Myers, Deborah & Dennis O’Kain, John & Stephanie Pew, Sandy Smith & Raymond Tollman, Betsy & Wally Turner, Sue & William Wrigley.
Media Sponsor: Palm Beach Illustrated.
About Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:
With a mission to inspire and educate through nature, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Visitors to this 20-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas containing more than 7,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including Florida natives, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, bromeliads, and much more. Mounts Botanical is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.mounts.org.