Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Franklin Park Conservatory has been awarded the Auditor of the State Award by the State of Ohio House of Representatives. This award recognizes the Conservatory's timely, accurate, and comprehensive financial statements. We feel very honored to receive this award, and proud of the hard work that went into it! #franklinparkconservatory

Exciting news! We’re thrilled to announce a generous donation from the Women’s Board, made possible by the incredible proceeds from the Field to Table fundraising event! ?? This support is vital in enabling us to make a difference in our community through gardening and urban ag education, food access, teen internship programs, and much more. With a gift of $435,040, we give a heartfelt thank you to the Women’s Board for their unwavering commitment and generosity! ?? #CommunitySupport #ThankYou #WomensBoard #Franklinparkconservatory

Thank you, USA TODAY for making us one of the top 10 Botanical Gardens to see during the fall season ???? Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecxyNMZH #franklinparkconservatory #columbusohio

Now accepting reservations for holiday events! Host your corporate gathering at the beautiful conservatory, surrounded by lush greenery and stunning natural beauty. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3AIvFBa #franklinparkconservatory #corporateevents

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the 16th annual Field to Table event! We are extremely grateful to the Women's Board for their hard work, planning, and support, to our Cocktail Party vendors, the local farmers, and producers who provided fresh ingredients for the dinner, and to our sponsors for investing in the Conservatory's education, outreach, and access programs. We extend special thanks to our generous Terrace, Mallway, and Greenhouse-level sponsors: Bank of America The Spark Joy Fund Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. Bath & Body Works Kroger Miles-McClellan Construction Co., Inc. We also want to extend a big thank you to the event chair, Jessica Joseph, and the entire Field to Table committee! Thank you for a wonderful evening! #franklinparkconservatory

Host your holiday event with us this season! Schedule a tour to explore how you can elevate your next corporate event at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3AIvFBa"

Please welcome Camille Seals, one of the newest members of the Board of Trustees: Mrs. Camille Seals is an inspirational leader with a record of academic excellence and transformative impact in student-centered education. Since 2022, she has served as the 14th Head of School at Columbus School for Girls (CSG). Under her leadership, CSG completed a five-year $17-million comprehensive campaign, a landmark achievement that has provided substantial resources for the school’s growth and innovation. Camille spearheaded the launch of six cutting-edge centers of learning under the school’s Institute for Innovation and Leadership, solidifying CSG’s reputation as a leader in girls’ education. Her strategic vision has led to a remarkable increase in student retention rates, and she was instrumental in securing a $1 million budget-offsetting gift in support of the early childhood program. In her second year at CSG, Camille guided the creation of the school’s “She Will Thrive: Leading with Excellence” Strategic Plan. This plan emphasizes institutional excellence, global learning, social-emotional development, and fostering a culture of belonging, ensuring that CSG continues to thrive as the premier educational institution for girls in Central Ohio. Her leadership and accomplishments were recognized with her inclusion in the 2023 class of 40 Under 40 by Columbus Business First and the inaugural class of Columbus Monthly’s Inspiring Women. In 2023, Columbus School for Girls was named the #1 Private School (K-12) in Columbus by Columbus CEO Best of Business. Before joining CSG, Camille served as Assistant Head of School for Academics & Inclusive Excellence at The Agnes Irwin School in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, where she oversaw the PreK-12 academic scope, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging initiatives, and the school’s distinctive programs. Her tenure at Agnes Irwin saw transformative changes, including implementing anti-bias training in the hiring process, strategic recruitment to increase faculty diversity, and launching a new faculty evaluation process centered on professional growth. In addition to her leadership experience, Camille holds a B.A. in English from Spelman College and an M.A. from Tufts University. She also participated in the NAIS Fellowship for Aspiring Heads and completed the New & Aspiring School Leaders Program at Harvard University. Her deep commitment to education and equity is evident throughout her career as she inspires and leads with excellence.

Please welcome Lisa Whittaker, one of the newest members of the Board of Trustees: Lisa Whittaker is the Director and Managing Counsel, Employment and Labor Law for The J.M. Smucker Company (“Smucker”), a leading consumer packaged goods company headquartered in Orrville, OH. Ms. Whittaker joined Smucker in April 2021 and provides practical and business-oriented advice to cross-functional partners on a variety of topics. Ms. Whittaker is a strategic thought partner who recommends solutions to complex employee-related matters. Her strengths include reducing risk to the business, educating, and empowering associates, and preparing/updating policies, procedures, and handbooks. Ms. Whittaker also defends the company in litigation. Prior to joining Smucker, Ms. Whittaker served as in-house counsel at EXPRESS, LLC and ascena Retail Group, Inc. Before transitioning in-house, Ms. Whittaker was a Labor and Employment associate at Porter Wright Morris and Arthur LLP. Ms. Whittaker has had a long-term commitment to serving the community and underrepresented groups. Ms. Whittaker currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Housing Network (“CHN”) and is a Past President of the Ohio Women’s Bar Association and the John Mercer Langston Bar Association, African American Bar Association. Ms. Whittaker also served three consecutive three-year terms on the Ohio State University Board of Trustees, Newark Campus. Other notable service includes her time on the Columbus Bar Association’s Board of Governors and as a Board Member for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. Ms. Whittaker is a Columbus Business First Forty under 40 Class of 2013 Honoree and was recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2015. Ms. Whittaker also received the Ohio Women’s Bar Association President’s Choice Award in 2018. Ms. Whittaker earned her J. D. from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. She also received a Master’s degree in Education Administration from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Wright State University.

Thank you, GCAC! Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is thrilled to have been awarded $975,429 through the Greater Columbus Arts Council's Operating Support grant. This is part of GCAC’s more than $12.7M in awards to support nonprofit arts & culture organizations in our city. Thank you, GCAC, for your incredible support of the arts in our community. We are honored! @GCAC_Cbus #gcacgrants #artmakescbus

Our team had the pleasure of hosting interns from the Ohio International Intern Program (TOP) for an insightful tour of the Franklin Park Conservatory. Leading the group was Shane Fennelly, our dedicated international student intern, who excelled in guiding 44 interns from 19 different countries through our gardens.