ReEmployAbility works alongside thousands of nonprofit organizations through its Transition2Work® Return-to-Work program. To commemorate the great service our nonprofit partnership provides to our clients and injured workers in the Southern Florida region, ReEmployAbility would like to spotlight Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Named after the famous plant explorer, David Fairchild, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s mission is to harness the power of plants for all of humankind to share the joy and beauty of tropical gardening with everyone.
The Beginning of a Botanical Collection
Since 1938, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has maintained an outstanding botanical collection that has remained a fundamental part of the institution’s existence. Before the Garden was created, founders Robert Montgomery and David Fairchild themselves collected, documented, and studied tropical and subtropical plants from around the world. Since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the organization’s plant collecting efforts had increased drastically, many scientists sought to restore the Garden’s collections, but also to identify and save endangered plants throughout the tropics.
Making Botanic History
Director of Human Resources & Volunteer Services Isabel Sanchez took the time to answer some interview questions so readers can get a better understanding of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and how ReEmployAbility’s Transition2Work® program helps the nonprofit fulfill its mission.
Isabel discusses the goals and accomplishments Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has achieved recently. She describes the Garden as a place “built on the belief that the natural world should be connected to visitors through exploring, explaining, and conserving the world of tropical plants.” By upholding these values, the nonprofit has been named the #1 Best Botanic Garden by USA Today for 2021 and 2022. A great honor, fulfilled by decades of hard work and conservation.
Transition2Work Lends a Green Thumb
For 84 years, the Garden has been supported by volunteer services. Isabel has described ReEmployAbility’s Transition2Work program as an opportunity “to provide critical operational support to multiple departments and exhibits within the Botanic Gardens.” Our Transition2Work program participants play key roles in many departments. This includes the Wings of the Tropics Exotic Butterfly Conservatory, the South Entrance, and the Membership Department, and our program participants have the opportunity to become Garden-wide ambassadors.
We aim to provide benefits to those who participate in Transition2Work, as well as our nonprofit partners like Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Isabel agrees with the notion that there is great value for many volunteers involved in Transition2Work by stating that,
“Workers who have been placed with us get to experience a worksite normally different from their typical work environment. We have spacious, open-air positions that many find peaceful. For those who may not directly work with the public in their normal jobs, we provide the opportunity to develop those skills. We also expose them to information about Fairchild and tropical botany, therefore directly supporting our mission of educating our community members.”
Explore Fairchild’s Legacy
Fairchild connects the South Florida community with art, nature, and conservation. Its success and growth would not be possible without the support of the wonderful employees and volunteers, and their passion for nature and knowledge. Working alongside the volunteers and staff of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has developed a fruitful, mutually supportive partnership that we hope to carry on for many more years to come. We can all agree it is a “win-win” for all!
Follow and share the link to learn more about Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. To donate to this nonprofit in support of its work in conservation, science, and education visit www.fairchildgarden.org/donate.
