January 2008

Dear Friend of the Garden:

This is the Garden’s annual report to the membership regarding some of the activities that took place this year.  Enclosed is the Treasurer’s Report for 2007, prepared by J. Timothy Whitener, a certified public accountant. 

The Garden, located at the corner of Washington Street East and Sidney Avenue in the East End of Charleston, is a unique volunteer project that has been a cooperative effort among our organization, the State, the City of Charleston, and the community.  The Garden is not only an important East End beautification project, it is a very visible AIDS awareness project.

This year we added $4,000 to the Living AIDS Memorial Garden Fund with the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, bringing the total fund to over $15,000.  We anticipate that this fund will require at least $100,000.00 to generate sufficient interest to maintain the Garden now and in the future.  Donations to our Fund may be made directly to the Foundation or through the Garden. We are very pleased to announce that this is the first year that the fund generated interest to add to the Garden’s operating account.  

Also, this year we replaced the Garden’s benches and tables with a grant from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.  The City of Charleston removed the old furniture and installed the new furniture at no cost to the Garden, saving considerable expense.

While we now have the funding to pay for some of the maintenance services the Garden requires, we rely on the members of the Design and Maintenance Committee to maintain the Garden through quarterly clean ups.  Chair of the Committee and some of the members who have helped this year are:  Carl Maxwell, Leslie and Geert Bakker, Bob and Amanda Maxwell, Marc and Amy Weintraub, Jeff Crist, Charlie Rouse, Andy Ragland, Sally Roberts, Lynne Sandy, and Eileen Maroney.  The Pyles, Haviland, Turner & Mick Foundation, Inc. gave the Garden a grant to help defray the increased cost of water due to the unusually hot and dry weather.

Several fundraising events have been held this year.  In February, the Tap Room held the 2007 Sweethearts for the Garden Benefit to raise money for the Garden.  The Tap Room has held this benefit for a number of years and we appreciate their support.

In March, the Broadway hosted the 2007 Miss Red Ribbon Pageant, a benefit for the Garden, which was won by one of Charleston’s most talented entertainers, Michelle St. James. Charleston entertainer, Laura Beth, served as the 2006 Miss Red Ribbon.

Our major fundraiser, the DANCE FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T™ was held in June at the Broadway and hosted by Larry Genrick.  The 2007 Dance was dedicated to Ed Ayers who was tragically murdered on April 3, 2006.  The theme was “A Southern Night” and Tim Forren of Forren Soil did a spectacular job transforming the Broadway stage into a southern plantation.  Newton Hendricks and Larry Bragg provided piano music during the cocktail portion of the Dance and long-time Broadway DJ Jerry Fletcher provided the music for the rest of the production.

The 10^th DANCE FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T™ was sponsored by Central Distributing, LLC. and The Verizon Foundation and was a part of the 2007 Pride Festival. The sponsoring Circle of Friends included: Laura Beth, Kim, Bob and Adam Aaron, Delegate Carrie Webster, Capitol Paging, Hershel Layne and George Bostic, Robert Damron and Dan Faber, and Larry Grimm and Ted Ford. Door prizes were donated by Visions Day Spa, Ivor’s Trunk, the Greenbrier, Len Rogers/StoneWall Society Network, Park Place Stadium Cinemas, Embassy Suites, Long Fork Camp Grounds, Laury's Restaurant, Cafe de Paris, First Watch, Capitol Paging, Art Emporium, Broadway, Tap Room, R. Augustus Hamrick, II, DMD, Pro-Art & Framing Center, Ritz Camera, Maggie Moo's, First Glass, Macy's, Inspired, Mainstreet Ventures (DBA Tidewater/Gratzi/Chop House), Godiva Chocolatier, Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream, Capitol Roasters, Bennigan's, Blues BBQ, Bridge Road Bistro and Bluegrass Kitchen.  Food Among the Flowers, owned by Jim Fletcher and David Fleshman, and their staff did a great job setting up and catering the event.

In August, the Lee Street Lounge hosted the 2007 Pool Party to raise money for the Garden and for the Charleston AIDS Network.  Thanks to Jim Fletcher, Larry Genrick, Jeff Spalding, and everyone else who attended and were involved with this benefit for the Garden and CAN.

In September, new officers and a new Board of Directors were elected for the 2007-2008 fiscal year at our annual Membership Meeting. The members elected the following persons to the Board of Directors: Dave Bailey, Larry Genrick, Don Hamric, Carl Maxwell, Bill Richards, Bob Rosier, Lynne Sandy, Jeff Spalding, Bruce Severino, Robert Sheets, David Shumate, Steven Tompa, and Tim Whitener. 

Following the Membership Meeting, the newly formed Board of Directors met to elect new officers.  Following the nomination process, the following were elected:  Bruce Severino, President; Lynne Sandy, Vice President; Tim Whitener, Treasurer and Larry Genrick, Secretary.

Special thanks to outgoing Board member, John Long, for his many contributions to the Garden and the community.  

In December, we observed World AIDS Day with a candlelight observance at the Garden concluding an afternoon which included Dan Connery’s Yogaid at the Asbury United Methodist Church and the premiere of a new public service awareness ad at the Cultural Center by Covenant House.  The Rev. Dr. Eileen Dumire conducted the service and Barry Bailey provided musical accompaniment.  Other sponsors included All-Aid International, Mothers & More, Foundation for Equality, Rainbow Pride of WV, and SAGA.  Food Among the Flowers donated hot chocolate and apple cider. 

Also, in December we held a very successful second annual Christmas Dance which featured Steven Tompa as Santa Claus and his Elves, played by Carl Maxwell, Tim Whitener and Lynne Sandy.  The performers were Laura Beth, Synamon, Donita Monroe, XTC, and Michelle St. James along with Kenny Grady, Travis, Ron Truman, Jamey Trimble, Herbie Vinson and Donna Titsling. 

On the next day, Mike Duda organized the second annual Soup Day at the Lee Street Lounge as a fundraiser for the Garden.  It was a blustery and cold day, perfect for the 11 different soups that were featured for a donation to the Garden’s maintenance fund.   Mike did a great job putting together this unique and very tasty fundraiser.

Then, on Sunday night the Tap Room held a "A Night With Friends" birthday party for Jim Lawson.  All proceeds from this event were donations for imprinted bricks for anyone who wanted an imprinted brick, but could not afford one.

This year, our annual “Light Up the Garden” event was again generously funded by the Bernice Pickens Parsons Foundation.  Nature’s Window, owned by Tim Cook and John Long, installed the holiday lights. 

This year we will continue to raise money for the fund we established with the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.  Thank you for supporting the Garden and we hope all of you have a prosperous and happy 2008.                             

 L. Bruce Severino,                     Larry Genrick, 

                        President                                  Chair, Fundraising Committee