Just under 300 guests came out for the Friends of the Public Garden’s signature springtime black-tie gala, the Green and White Ball, at the Four Seasons on Friday, April 26, 2019, raising over $600,000 to provide care for the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
Friends Executive Director Liz Vizza and Board Chair, Leslie Adam, would like to thank Honorary Chair Peter A. Brooke and co-Chairs Ashley Harmon, Amanda Pratt, Jessica Schmitz, and Lisa Taffe for their generous commitment to ensuring the success of this major fundraiser for the parks, and all the sponsors and guests for their wonderful support. The evening included cocktails, an elegant seated dinner of vichyssoise and halibut and dancing with the band Night Shift. The Friends debuted a new video focusing on Boston Common to rave reviews. Event partner Marc Hall dazzled guests with his floral inspiration for this year – the rose – with towering rose sculptures atop the tables.
The Friends invests over $1.5 million a year to meet the urgent needs of the parks, from annual care and maintenance to major park improvement projects. Over the past two decades, the Green and White Ball has raised over $7 million to support efforts to renew, care, and advocate for the Common, Garden, and Mall. Proceeds from the events have provided critical funds to ensure the health and beauty of these important green spaces.
