HRI Marks 60th Anniversary
On Jan. 6, the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), kicked off a milestone year, recognizing and thanking donors, researchers, and the industry during a reception at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in Baltimore, Maryland.
This September marks the 60th anniversary of HRI, the horticultural industry’s research and scholarship foundation and the year-long celebration got off to a strong start at MANTS raising over $400,000 in donations during the event.
HRI, the AmericanHort research foundation, was established by industry leaders on the premise that no one could better direct needed research to advance horticulture than the very people who work in it, day in and day out. Today, HRI sticks to that same vision: funding and guiding horticultural research efforts with the direct input from industry professionals.
To date, HRI has supported $9.5 million in research grants and scholarships —$3.6 million of that has been distributed to over 100 research projects since 2012.
“HRI’s success is driven by the industry’s belief in our mission and both their financial and volunteer support,” says incoming 2022 HRI President Alan Jones, of Manor View Farm, Monkton, Maryland. “We achieved this milestone through the hard work and dedication of our industry volunteers, our staff team, and our thousands of donors over the last six decades. HRI’s work improves our industry and will continue to do so for decades to come.”a
During the reception, Ed Tankard of Tankard Nurseries Inc., Exmore, Virginia, announced the creation of the John E. Tankard, Jr. Research Fund. This new fund aims to provide a legacy in memory of John Tankard, Jr., Ed’s father, who guided the business for 53 years, in order to secure a long-term source of funding for research deemed important to the industry.
American Beauties Native Plants announced it will provide a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $10,000, for donors who would like to help grow the fund aimed at supporting research into native plants. To donate to this fund, visit www.hriresearch.org/donate or contact Jennifer Gray at [email protected].
Danny Summers, CEO of the Garden Center Group, announced that the Southern Nursery Association Legacy fund within HRI was about to exceed $300,000 and offered a limited quantity gift to donors interested in contributing to this fund. Each donor will receive a limited-edition copy of the Southern Nursery Association legacy book.
Additional donors were recognized during the celebratory reception, including American Beauties Native Plants, Spring Meadow Nursery, North Creek Nurseries, Herman Losely & Son, Overdevest Nursery, Decker Nursery, NewGen Boxwood, Manor View Farm, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and GreenForest Nursery.
Monies raised from donations made during events like this, and throughout the year, fund the activities of the Horticultural Research Institute’s research and scholarship programs, along with educational outreach activities for the industry
For more information about HRI, its grant-funded research, scholarships, or programming, visit www.hriresearch.org or contact Jennifer Gray at 614.884.1155.
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