Dinner on the Desert Raises $450,000 for Desert Botanical Garden

By Karen Werner

On April 28, more than 600 business leaders, philanthropists, community partners and Garden friends gathered for the 32nd annual Dinner on the Desert. Together, they raised $450,000 to support Sonoran Desert field trips for students, care for the Garden’s plant collection and enable the conservation efforts of field botanists.

The event’s chairs, Kathleen and Steve Taddie, envisioned the fundraiser as “A Garden Full of Stars” — the idea being how beautiful the night sky is at the Garden, and how anyone who supports the Garden is a “real” star.

During the evening, guests strolled through the Garden to the silent auction to bid on more than 240 plants, pots and garden art, as well as unique experiences, décor, art, sculpture and fine dining.

After a delectable dinner in the magical Garden setting, guests enjoyed the display of succulents and cactus, views of the Papago Buttes and a final look at Jun Kaneko’s stunning sculptures at sunset. They then learned about stars with the Phoenix Astronomical Society and danced by starlight to Garden favorite, Traveler.

Proceeds from the evening will directly benefit the Garden’s research, conservation, exhibition and environmental education programs as well as its work to protect cactuses, one of the most threatened groups of living organisms.