2023 Grow It Green Spring into Action

Join in our Spring into Action Fundraiser- tickets available for ESO Artisinal Pasta surprise dinner party at one of the few remaining local Gilded Age Mansions.

A ticket supports us and ESO with a beautiful evening celebrating food and community!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR WINNERS on 35 items in our fabulous Silent Auction- incredible array of getaways & experiences, including a private party pizza truck, Mansion in May experience, and a chance to NAME A NEW CHICK at the Urban Farm!

Thank you to all for joining us on May 1 at Glenbrook Brewery!

Thank you all to our sponsors, food vendors and local business owners and supporters that donated items for the tricky tray raffle!  Everything tasted amazing - the 4 different gourmet sandwiches and pickled veggies from Ome Catering, delicious jambalaya and rice from Chef Fredy's Table, so many artisan cheeses from Jersey Girl Cheese with Karma Krackers; a honey/carrot icecream created for the event by Beenie's; Madison Park Foods popcorn with spice blends; Cambridge Wine tastings served by Jon Adkins, Director of Sales and Sam Doyle, Wine Director.; and Glenbrook Brewery beer. Check out your swag bag and thank you for the incredible music by Joey from the team at DJ Chelli!

Thank you to Fairview Farm & Flowers for the beautiful floral decorations!

Our Honorees:

Community Partner of the Year: Ralph Tejeda, Chairman, Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce

Our partnership with MCHACC rose to new levels in 2022 with amazing programs and events to elevate the health of a growing Hispanic community. They understand that physical and mental health are keys to economic health and joined us in celebrating culture and community!

Corporate Partner of the Year: Intercept Pharmaceuticals

At Intercept, they keep people at the center of all they do. They're dedicated to building a healthier tomorrow for people with progressive non-viral liver disease.

Marianne Tobler Volunteer of the Year:  Laura Nunez, Retired Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Nurse

 "Laura always shows up to help with a smile, adding to a dedicated career of providing local health care for our community."

Your support puts fresh produce on more residents' plates addressing nutritional security, brings hands-on education programs to thousands of students from preschool to college, keeps green spaces thriving to grow and connect communities and funds public events throughout the year plus so much more! When you bid and give, your donations support:

• Growth and donation of fresh food addressing nutritional insecurity 
• Farm-based education for local children preschool to college including the new MHS program at the garden
• Community outdoor activities that provide nature therapy- places to reconnect and respect and protect the land, air and water
• Collaborations with organizations to help elevate the health of NJ communities including Newark SAS Farm to Table shares
• New FarmRx program with KidFit at Goryeb Children's Hospital and Pediatrics of Morristown to create local solutions to childhood obesity 
• More equitable and sustainable food systems through education, farm practices and community markets
• Community gardening to grow food and friendships and encourage people to grow food and protect the water supply and wildlife habitats- fund our subsidized beds!

GALA Committee:

Emmanuelle Fleurinor & Vilma Velez-Manning, Co-Chairs

Tom Mulligan

Chantal Taylor

Christine Volinsky

Jennifer Thackery

Russell Farr

Sam Rothman

Kathy Doyle, Development Manager

2023 Sponsors - THANK YOU FOR HELPING MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE and supporting Grow It Green's programs!

Laura Nunez- Marianne Tobler Volunteer of the Year- shares her bio as a parent, Morristown resident and Morristown Medical Center nurse:

My niche was carved out in this very community when I began my nursing career at Morristown Memorial Hospital in 1975. My three BOLD boys, now grown men, can attribute their education, sportsmanship, careers and full lives to the Morris School District. I owe those schools a debt of gratitude for keeping them in line! 
During the early years of nursing, I couldn't help but notice, when families brought in homemade foods, made with love and fresh ingredients, my patients noticeably survived and recovered!  
Despite their radical surgeries due to devastating cancers, traumas and debilitating illnesses, my patients thrived on wholesome foods. This experience ignited my quest to help improve the health and overall wellness in my beloved community; one person at a time. 
Several years back the hospital started their own garden. All harvested foods filled our cafeteria salad bars and were used in our hot lunches. I hopped on the bandwagon to help plant and harvest all the wonderful veggies to fill our garden beds.  During the toughest days of the pandemic, we hoped the flowers we tended would provide some relief from the toughest days. 
Many a weekend my grandchildren tagged along (yes, they were forced!). We were mindful that this green space was a welcome sight of hope and beauty for staff and visitors alike, particularly during the toughest days of COVID-19. 
Within our hospital tended garden, are three Grow It Green raised beds, which in recent years, were used as our herb garden filling meals with flavor. Naturally this organization piqued my interest and here I am as a volunteer; a labor of love. 

THANK YOU, LAURA!

Ralph Tejeda & Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce- Community Partner of the Year:

Ralph has served as the Chair of the organization and reached out to us to work together to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic community and celebrate the cultural of local Hispanic residents with events that elevated health with music, food and learning. The organization has a garden plot at Early Street Community Garden, and has co-hosted a variety of events in 2022. The organization understands and promotes that our physical and mental health is key to economic health of individuals, families and businesses.
The Mission of the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber is to advocate, promote and advance the interests of business owners, professionals, organizations and corporations within Morris County and the adjacent areas that target and serve the U.S. Hispanic-American market.

THANK YOU, Ralph and MCHACC!