PHILANTHROPY
The Club has a long history of contributing to the community. In addition to maintaining numerous gardens throughout Wilton, distributing wreaths and centerpieces during the holiday season, and spearheading the “Making Wilton Beautiful” fundraising campaign, the Club also gives regularly to other nonprofit groups in Wilton. The Club directs its contributions to organizations that reflect and support the Club’s cornerstones of education, conservation, preservation, and beautification.
In addition, the Club established the Marybeth Wheeler Memorial Scholarship Award in 2014. This award is given to a graduating senior at Wilton High School who has shown an interest or achievement in one or more of the following: nature, horticulture, botany or ecology. To learn more about this scholarship and its past recipients, click here.
In 2022, to add a personal touch to its philanthropic contributions, the Club started a new Giving Day tradition. Rather than mailing checks, Club representatives spend several days hand-delivering these checks. This enables us to deepen our connection and understanding of the recipient organizations and the important causes that they champion.
2024 Wilton Garden Club (WGC) Giving Day Recipients:
Ambler Farm
WGC is sponsoring 3 need-based scholarships for children to attend the farm’s summer camp. Every child should have the opportunity to explore the outdoors, learn about farming and experience growing their own food.
Federated Garden Clubs of CT
As a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of CT, WGC supports its need-based scholarship(s) given to a resident of CT entering their junior or senior year in college or a graduate student majoring in a field of study related to the environment.
National Garden Cubs, Inc.
As a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. WGC will help support Penny Pines, a reforestation initiative sponsored by National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Making Wilton Beautiful
The “Making Wilton Beautiful” campaign is a WGC initiative in collaboration with the Town of Wilton, to help purchase the gorgeous hanging flower baskets and winter snowflakes that add to the charm and beauty of our downtown area.
Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT)
The NRVT is a town gem! WGC supports the NRVT to help maintain this fantastic, wooded trail that so many people utilize.
Norwalk River Watershed Association (NRWA)
NRWA is instrumental in the removal of invasive plants within the Wilton watershed area and for planting native plants along the NRVT. These efforts have helped to enhance the importance and knowledge of a healthy ecosystem within our Wilton community.
Pollinator Pathway
The Pollinator Pathway was started in Wilton! It has since grown to more than 300 towns across the U.S. We support the Pollinator Pathway’s work to educate the community about the need for organic yard management and the importance of planting pollinator and native plants to connect lands to create crucial corridors for wildlife.
Wilton Historical Society
The Historical Society is another town gem! The WGC supports the maintenance of the beautiful Herb Garden at the entrance of the Historical Society. These gardens were created and are maintained by WGC Master Gardeners.
Wilton Go Green
Wilton Go Green is committed to engaging, educating and inspiring Wilton residents to embrace a lifestyle of environmental sustainability. WGC is helping to support the Wilton Go Green composting initiative.
Wilton Library Association
The Wilton Library is the hub of our community for all ages, bringing people together to learn, explore and enjoy. WGC donates to the library yearly to support the purchase of gardening books, continue the youth gardening program, and support gardening and conservation related speakers.
Wilton Land Trust
The Wilton Land Trust mission is to protect Wilton’s unique natural, scenic, and historical landscapes through conservation and stewardship. WGC is helping to support the creation of a native, pollinator bed at Chestnut Meadow.
