President's Circle

Four Generations of
Family Find Inspiration
and Community.

“We went to the Garden and immediately thought, ‘This is a spectacular place’,” Judy said.

It’s been 47 years since that first visit and their enthusiasm hasn’t waned. Over the decades, they’ve made treks to the Garden as often as possible, enjoying the landscapes through the eyes of their children, and now grandchildren.

After retiring from demanding careers in healthcare and consulting, the couple found the Garden a source of calm, inspiration, and creativity. They began taking yoga classes in 2008, and during the pandemic they attended the class online.

“There’s always something to do— new attractions, new curiosities, and all the classes, which are an incredible resource—cooking, flower arranging, writing—they seem to know the interests of visitors.”

One day, when Judy’s sister dropped their elderly mother off at the Visitor Center, Vivienne Jones, director of principal gifts, was nearby and kept her company while the car was parked. 

“Our mom became best buddies with Vivienne who made us feel very welcome,” Judy said. 

“My mom felt extremely special. She became a regular and loved it.”

Four generations of the family have now enjoyed the Garden, including grandchildren Eleanor and Beatrice.

Three years ago, the Garden invited the couple for a behind-the-scenes
tour to showcase projects and initiatives, further inspiring their giving to the Garden. 

“It’s such an important resource for the community—and it’s inclusive, with so many offerings for people of all ages and backgrounds.” 

When five-year-old Lucy Oshman visited the Seed Bank at the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, she couldn’t wait to start growing her own plants at home. “Flowers and tomatoes,” she said proudly when asked what she loves most about the Garden. Even at a young age, Lucy is already discovering what her mother, Jacqlyn, treasures too: connecting with nature in the heart of a bustling city.

For Jacqlyn, that connection runs deep.

“I grew up gardening and loving the outdoors,” she said. “When we moved to Chicago, the Garden became this beautiful place where I could pass on that love to my kids.”

Whether she’s visiting with her two daughters to explore the Model Railroad Garden or finding a quiet moment to read in the Helen and Richard Thomas English Walled Garden, it’s a place she returns to again and again.

As a former teacher, Jacqlyn is always looking for meaningful ways to give back—and hopes to instill that same spirit in her children.

“The Garden reflects so many things I care about— sustainability and conservation, education, and getting kids involved in
nature,” she said. “It just felt like a natural place for our family to support.”

That purpose deepened when Jacqlyn began volunteering at Windy City Harvest’s Farm on Ogden—following in the footsteps of her mother, who is also a Garden volunteer.

“I didn’t realize at first that it was part of the Garden,” she said. “But once I saw how far the work really goes—providing goods and services beyond the North Shore, and throughout all of Chicago —I wanted to be part of it.”

For David, Jacqlyn, Lucy, and Logan Oshman, the Garden is a place where their family’s values take root—from making memories together to helping nurture plants and people beyond its bounds.

“I’m really nervous about where the world is going with climate change,” Jacqlyn said. “But places like this—where learning, nature, and community all come together— make me feel like we’re planting seeds for a better future.”

For Ronni Grey, the Chicago Botanic Garden isn’t just a place to walk, reflect, or enjoy the changing seasons—it’s where her passions for science, nature, and community come together.

After retiring from a successful career as a chemical engineer at the William Wrigley Jr. Company, Ronni didn’t slow down. Instead, she returned to the Garden, not just as a visitor, but as a dedicated volunteer. In the plant documentation department, she put her skills to work mapping thousands of species with GPS technology and helping to manage the labels visitors see throughout the grounds.

“It was a perfect fit,” she says. “I wanted to do something meaningful that aligned with my environmental values.”

Her hands-on connection to the Garden grew deeper when she joined the President’s Circle, a group of committed donors who support the Garden’s most critical work. In 2016, Ronni funded the purchase of a high-precision GPS unit—an essential tool used in plant mapping.

“Being part of the President’s Circle allows me to support the kinds of projects I really care about, especially research and ecological restoration,” she says.

Ronni’s generosity is personal in other ways, too. Through the Garden’s Tribute Gift Program, she’s honored the memory of loved ones with commemorative bricks, a plaque in the Krasberg Rose Garden, and even a tribute tag on a bald cypress tree.

And in a playful nod to her Wrigley days, she donated a vintage Doublemint gum railcar to the Model Railroad Garden.

While Ronni appreciates the behind-the scenes access and sense of community that come with being a President’s Circle member, what means most is knowing her support helps the Garden thrive.

“I support other causes, but this one’s personal,” she says. “We can’t take the environment for granted. Without it, nothing else works.”