Chicago Botanic Garden

for immediate release

Chicago Horticultural Society
Names New Board Chairman

 

Media Only:
Gloria Ciaccio
(847) 835-6819
gciaccio@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (June 18, 2009) —The Chicago Horticultural Society today named Susan A. Willetts chairman of the board of directors. Willetts will serve a three-year term. She has been a member of the board of directors since 2004; serving on the executive, nominating, and development committees and co-chairing the science initiative task force.

“The Chicago Botanic Garden's 385-acre campus is a treasure for all of the residents of Cook County. The opening of the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center in September enhances our mission to promote the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of plants and the natural world. It will be a fully accessible laboratory where visitors can watch our scientists doing research. This building is the first phase of a planned 15-acre science campus. We take seriously our challenge to save the plants, save the planet. Our board is committed to working with the Garden's talented staff to complete the second phase of this project in the next ten years,” she said.

Willetts is a managing director at Goldman, Sachs & Co; has been a member of the Economic Club of Chicago since 2004, and served on the board of directors of The Field Museum from 1998 to 2006. She became a member of The Chicago Network in 2008.

She earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1977 and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University in 1981.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.
 
The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.