Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2019

16 chicagobotanic.org Give back to your Garden It starts with an idea—to honor a loved one or share the Chicago Botanic Garden’s beauty with generations to come. With a gift to the Garden’s endowment, you help us shape the future. Meet these generous donors: King and Hope Poor Beginning in the 1970s, King Poor and his family would often visit the edg- ling Chicago Botanic Garden. His mother, Janet Meakin Poor, was an early supporter of the Garden and in 1987, became the rst woman to chair the Garden’s Board of Directors. As chair, she fostered a commitment to plant science and helped establish the Garden’s Plant Science and Conserva- tion Department. King’s mother never lost her fascina- tion with plants, her delight in learning about them, and her dedication to pro- tecting them. A week before she died in June 2017, Janet Meakin Poor attend- ed a research symposium named for her at the Garden. King and his wife, Hope, have created an endowment in her honor for the graduate program in plant biology and conservation through the Garden and Northwestern University. eir gift helps the next generation of plant sci- entists continue the plant stewardship and environmental advocacy so impor- tant to Janet Meakin Poor—and to us. “Her generation had the vision to create the Garden, and we’re called to be good stewards of that legacy.” — King Poor, referring to his mother, Janet Meakin Poor, Chicago Botanic Garden board chair, 1987 – 1993 Glenn Kohlmeyer Penny and Glenn Kohlmeyer, married 45 years, were a team. Together they grew their marriage and their home garden, and together they volunteered at the Garden. Penny focused on the What’s in Bloom plant display outside the Visitor Center, assisting Boyce Tankersley, director of living plant doc- umentation. Glenn also joined Boyce’s team, digitizing plant photos from slides. Glenn lights up when he describes Pen- ny, who died in 2017. To honor his be- loved wife and the volunteer work she adored, he created the Penny Kohlmey- er Endowment Fund for Living Plant Documentation. Penny was always up for a new task, like helping to form a team leader program for volunteers. “ anks to Penny’s guidance, we’ve been able to establish a successful pro- gram,” said Boyce. “Both she and Glenn have been exceptionally sup- portive of the Garden over the years.” “Penny was such a big part of the living plant col- lections group. Contribut- ing to her area is a way to carry her volunteer work into the future.” — Glenn Kohlmeyer Hope and King Poor Penny Kohlmeyer