2022 Annual Report

Sonnenberg Gardens had a strong 2022 Gardens Season. Our gate attendance had an overall increase to this year’s visitation. Our season opened April 29th and closed October 31st in which we operated a five-day park schedule while also opening on off days to welcome bus guests. We are looking forward to greeting approximately 35,000 people at Sonnenberg this garden season. Sonnenberg had an inspired year in community sponsorships that con-tributed to our continued success in public events. Our private event season was about 18% over budget for the 2022 season. Individual contributions, and in-kind contributions have been steady throughout the 2022 season. Business contributions had an incredible increase of $154k for Historic Preservation and project work. If you would like more information regarding any of our planned giving programs or memorial contributions, please see our website, www.sonnenberg.org/share-your-love/ or contact me at director@sonnenberg.org or call me at 585-394-4922 ext 8.

We had some decent growth in 2022 with the EPF matching grant award of $490k of which we completed our match of $98k in 2022. We received two notable grants relating to conservation and operations. A $26k ZBGA grant was awarded for the arboretum collection as well as a $14k Stewardship grant from Parks & Trails NY for dig-itizing our historic collections and archives. We are always grateful for the smaller grants from Farash Foundation, Auburn Public Theatre, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Wegmans, and Thompson Health Foundation who provide critical funds for programs to assist with our mission.

The Board of Trustees and Staff are encouraged with the positive results of so many of these efforts this season. We all look forward to further restoration of Sonnenberg’s physical property in 2023 with the waterway restoration project continuing within the Rock Garden and Japanese Garden waterways. This project’s 2nd phase is now com-pleted and we will be lining and rebuilding a portion of the Rock Gardens water features. We are on the right track in our slow and steady return to being a community and regional destination as a public garden and historical home of the Thompson’s.

We look forward to opening again in 2023 as our nonprofit celebrates our 50th anniversary continuing to herald the story of Frederick and Mary Clark Thompson’s legacy in Canandaigua.

Thank you to all the volunteers, members and the community at large that assist us with our continued success.