Honoring, Reflecting, Remembering
"TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE"
Our Nonprofit's Mission Statement
The mission of this organization shall be to establish and maintain a Garden in memory of those who have died of AIDS and to provide a place of reflection for those who are living with AIDS and for those who are survivors. We hope this Garden will serve West Virginia and the surrounding states.
The small plot at the corner of Washington Street East and Sidney Avenue has become a haven of beauty and tranquility in an area that teems with activity from the nearby Capitol Complex. Members of the nonprofit Living AIDS Memorial Garden Inc. have worked since 1998 to turn the site into a place to honor the memories of those who have lost their lives to the disease and to provide a place of reflection for survivors and people living with the illness.
A funding mix of private donations, corporate contributions, government grants, and an annual benefit, the Dance for Those Who Can’t, has allowed garden organizers to create a blooming expanse that includes wildflowers, trees, and roses.
A Place of Beauty & Tranquility
“We try to have a progression that goes from daffodils and tulips in the spring to iris and allium to daylilies, followed by the black-eyed Susans and then the mums in the fall,” said Bruce Severino, who co-founded the group along with Carl Maxwell and the late Jeffrey Huff. Wrought-iron fencing frames the garden on two sides, while a brick walkway meanders from front to back. Visitors can use the concrete benches and tables scattered throughout the plot. Some bricks are imprinted with the names of donors or people who have died of AIDS and with inspirational messages, such as “To Live in the Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not to Die.”
How to Show Your Support
There are several ways you can get involved with or support our organization. Click on the images below to learn more about making donations and how to get in touch with Living AIDS Memorial Garden.
For memorial imprinted brick pavers at the our walkway, rose garden or wildflower garden, please visit our Store.
A Brief History of Our Garden
Founded in April 1998, the Living AIDS Memorial Garden, Inc. is an esteemed membership organization that has made significant contributions to the community.
With its recognition by the IRS as a nonprofit charitable organization under § 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, our mission is to establish and maintain a beautiful garden that serves as a lasting tribute to the countless lives lost to the devastating AIDS epidemic.
Moreover, we are committed to providing a safe and tranquil sanctuary for individuals living with AIDS as well as those who have emerged victorious in their battle against this relentless disease. Through our unwavering dedication and tireless efforts, we aim to create a compassionate and inclusive environment that fosters healing, understanding, and hope for all those affected by AIDS.
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Our Garden Center
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Support a Worthwhile Project
Living AIDS Memorial Garden has achieved the regional recognition that we were striving for when we first began this project. We have since completed the major elements of the garden and have started a campaign to raise money to help ensure the garden is professionally maintained, both now and in the future. Based on the support we have received, we feel that the Living AIDS Memorial Garden is a worthwhile project which has broad social appeal. AIDS is not just an illness, it is a powerful force that has torn the fabric of our society – and forever changed it. The garden is not only an important community beautification project, it is also a unique and very visible AIDS awareness project.
Articles Featuring Our Garden
In 2003, the Living AIDS Memorial Garden, Inc., was chosen as the public garden to represent West Virginia in the Summer edition of People, Places, and Plants, a regional gardening magazine that serves the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.
The article, Public Gardens of the Mid-Atlantic, featured public gardens in the Mid-Atlantic States. The Garden was chosen from 8 other public gardens in West Virginia which included the Bissonnette Gardens in Wheeling; the Brooks Memorial Arboretum in Marlinton; the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory and Herb Gardens in Huntington; the Core Arboretum in Morgantown; the Joan Stifel Corson Butterfly and Wildflower Gardens in Wheeling; the Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling; Prabhunpada’s Palace of Gold in Moundsville and the Ritter Park Rose Garden in Huntington.
Click the buttons below to view a snapshot of each publication's article.
Send us a Message
Phone:
304-346-0246
Email:
mail@livingaidsmemorialgarden.org
Mailing Address:
PO Box 11704
Charleston, WV 25339
