More than just industry techniques and insight changed hands at OFA's short course this week.

FloraStar presents AFE with a generous check. Front row (l to r) Danny Takao, Mike H. Mellano, AAF, Bob Humm, Sten Crissey, AAF, Red Kennicott, AAF. Second row (l to r) Dave Niklas, Bob Maddux, AAF, and Gary Hudson.

On Monday, July 14, FloraStar, an association whose purpose was to develop and promote new varieties of potted plants, gave its remaining funds to the American Floral Endowment (AFE). The promotion program was dissolved last year after 19 years in business.

Bob Humm, former president of FloraStar, and Gary Hudson, former executive director, presented a check for $36,318.50 to AFE leadership, including Mike H. Mellano, AAF, chairman; Red Kennicott, AAF, chairman-elect; Sten Crissey, AAF, AFE vice president of development and industry relations and trustees Dave Niklas and Bob Maddux, AAF. Danny Takao, former FloraStar vice president, represented OFA during the presentation at the Columbus Convention Center.

"AFE has the most comprehensive programs in research and scholarships of any organization in the floral industry," Crissey says. "This donation from FloraStar will be of great benefit to the industry and we thank them."

FloraStar's former executives echo the sentiment that their money found fertile soil. "We are certain the donation will be used by AFE to continue to bring new and improved genetics to market in the years to follow," Hudson says.

For more information on AFE, visit endowment.org.

--Morgan Schimminger
mschimminger@safnow.org

  

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