How It Happened: Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Legacy Awards

Since its inception, the UF/IFAS Extension Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program has been an integral part of the state’s agricultural and environmental landscape. Through this volunteer-based program, individuals receive comprehensive training in gardening practices that promote environmental sustainability, pest management, and soil conservation. In turn, they share their knowledge with local communities, helping Floridians create beautiful and functional gardens, improve food security, and protect the environment.

Recognizing the positive impact Florida Master Gardeners have on their communities, an anonymous donor and Florida Master Gardener Volunteer initiated the Florida Master Gardener Legacy Fund in 2018 to fuel local projects across the state. Through collective giving from fellow Florida Master Gardeners and community members, the fund grew to become a permanent endowment that now funds two to three projects annually.

Florida Master Gardener Legacy Award Impacts

Top: a group of children gardening vegetables. Middle: A MGV giving a tour of a vegetable garden to a group of adults. Bottom: A group of youth and adults pose with raised garden beds they built for a school garden. — The Master Gardener Legacy Award has supported Sumter County’s afterschool garden club (top), Broward County’s urban vegetable demonstration garden (middle), and St. Johns County’s youth garden club (bottom).

County and regional Florida Master Gardener programs are invited to submit applications annually to receive a Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Legacy Award grant to support new or continuing projects. Since 2018, ten projects across the state have been funded.

Through continued generous giving and investment earnings of the endowment fund, three grant awards were funded in 2024:

Escambia County: Edible gardening demonstration garden
Pasco County: Crews Lake Wilderness Park demonstration garden
Santa Rosa County: Greenhouse and educational signage improvements

Past Awardees

2023, Sumter County: Youth Center of Sumter County afterschool garden club enhancements
2023, Walton County: Coast Branch Extension Office landscaping project
2022, Brevard County: Discovery Garden educational signage
2021, Franklin County: Mobile education units
2021, Manatee County: Outdoor classroom in the Barbara Davis Education Garden
2020, Flagler County: Seed-of-Life demonstration garden
2020, Lake County: Honey bee garden and apiary demonstration program
2019, Broward County: Urban vegetable gardening demonstration site
2018, St. Johns County: Youth garden club raised beds

Sustaining Florida’s Environment and the FMGV Mission

A man in a white bee suit and latex gloves holds a smoker outdoors near man-made bee hives. — FMGV Giles Page-Wilkes at the apiary in the Lake County Discovery Gardens. Courtesy UF/IFAS Extension Lake County.

As a permanently endowed fund, this fund represents a sustainable, long-term investment in Florida’s horticultural science education and outreach programs, helping ensure future generations of Floridians continue to benefit from the valuable services Florida Master Gardeners provide.

From creating community gardens to educating homeowners about environmentally friendly lawn care, Florida Master Gardener Volunteers provide research-based horticulture information to residents of all ages. In 2023, more than 3,300 Florida Master Gardener Volunteers contributed 336,600 hours across 58 Florida counties. These certified volunteers share their knowledge of horticulture, gardening and sustainable practices with their neighbors and community.

Master Gardener Volunteers work on a variety of projects, including:

Teaching gardening skills to local residents
Providing advice on landscaping and pest control
Leading conservation initiatives, such as planting native species and restoring ecosystems
Assisting with urban farming efforts and food security programs

Their contributions not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of Florida’s gardens but also have far-reaching environmental and social benefits.

Growing a Legacy of Service

A group of four MGVs pose outside a fenced garden in matching yellow shirts. — Brevard County Florida Master Gardener Volunteers receive 2022 Legacy Award to support the Discovery Gardens in Cocoa.

The Legacy Fund is not just a financial resource; it is a testament to the dedication of those who volunteer and support the program. Through donations, individuals and organizations make an enduring local and statewide impact. Gifts in honor of dedicated volunteers and professionals have helped grow the endowment and triple its impact.

The collective impact of the Florida Master Gardener Legacy Fund is a vital component in the continued success of the Florida Master Gardener Program, ensuring that it remains a thriving resource for Floridians for years to come. Whether through donations, volunteering, or advocacy, each of us has an opportunity to be a part of this legacy and contribute to Florida’s greener, more sustainable future.

As gardeners know, every seed planted today can grow into something that benefits the community for years to come — helping the Florida Master Gardener Program flourish for future generations.

The “How it Happened” series showcases the transformational gifts made by donors to UF/IFAS during the University of Florida’s Go Greater Campaign. To learn more about creating your own impact through UF/IFAS programs with a charitable gift, please visit our website at give.ifas.ufl.edu or call the UF/IFAS Advancement Office at 352-392-1975.