...was established in 1987 using residual funds from a GCA annual meeting hosted by Zone IV clubs.
The Committee's purpose is to award grants to projects that benefit the state of New Jersey. The original grant was awarded to Dr. Orton of Rutgers University to help with his hybridization studies which led to the development of the well-known Rutgers Dogwood.
Since then, the Committee has donated $510,000 to over 87 worthwhile projects within the Garden State. Grant money is raised through garden club members' generous donations to the Growing Fund and each club within Zone IV has received multiple grants. Projects include forest and greenhouse restoration, outdoor classrooms, rain and community gardens and urban farms. .
The Millicent Mercer Johnsen (MMJ) Summer Intern Scholarships, supported by our annual fall Luncheon and Lecture, have underwritten 52 students in the fields of horticulture, plant sciences, the environment and landscape design.
