Gala for the Gardens
Saturday, May 9, 2026
11am – 2pm
San Francisco Botanical Garden, Celebration Garden

Celebrate nature, community, and the wonder of our planet at Gala for the Gardens, the annual benefit supporting the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, and San Francisco Botanical Garden.  

We’re thrilled to honor long-time ambassadors and friends to the Gardens, Ruth and Ken Wilcox, and welcome the award-winning author Margaret Renkl, for an afternoon to remember.  

Proceeds from the Gala provide invaluable support to sustain our diverse living collections, make possible a rich variety of programs for individuals and families year-round, and ensure that the Gardens of Golden Gate Park are accessible to all.  

We invite you to become a sponsor and join us in creating a lasting impact! As a sponsor, you will not only enjoy a day filled with inspiration and camaraderie but also play an instrumental role in supporting the Gardens’ mission to connect people to plants, the planet, and each other. 

Explore sponsorship levels and benefits, including recognition and exclusive opportunities, below.  

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsors are recognized in our program and event materials. Make your reservation by March 2 for inclusion in the event invitation. You may make your gift online or to pay by personal check, print and mail the sponsorship form.

Sponsor Form

Sponsorship Levels

Presenter 20 tickets, $50,000

  • Two premier tables of 10 with table signage
  • Recognition on all Gala printed materials and communications
  • New Benefit – Complimentary Family/Dual membership for table guests
  • New Benefit – Signed copy of Margaret Renkl’s new book, The Weedy Garden
  • Gala for the Gardens gift for each guest
  • Fair Market Value: $3,000 
Sponsor

Champion10 tickets, $25,000

  • Premium table of 10
  • Recognition on all Gala printed materials and communications 
  • Complimentary Family/Dual membership for table guests 
  • Signed copy of Margaret Renkl’s new book, The Weedy Garden 
  • Gala for the Gardens gift for each guest 
  • Fair Market Value: $1,500 
Sponsor

Conservator 8 Tickets, $10,000

  • Priority table of 8
  • Recognition on all Gala printed materials and communications 
  • Complimentary Family/Dual membership for table guests 
  • Gala for the Gardens gift for each guest 
  • Fair Market Value: $1,200 
Sponsor

Gardener 6 Tickets, $5,000

  • 6 seats at a shared table
  • Recognition on all Gala printed materials and communications
  • Complimentary Family/Dual membership for table guests 
  • Gala for the Gardens gift for each guest 
  • Fair Market Value: $900 
Sponsor

Sower4 Tickets, $3,000

  • 4 seats at a shared table
  • Recognition on all Gala printed materials and communications
  • Gala for the Gardens gift for each guest
  • Fair Market Value: $600
Sponsor

A note about event tickets/sponsorship, DAFs, IRAs, and Foundations:
I.R.S. regulations prohibit the purchase of any portion of an event ticket with a donor advised fund, foundations, and IRA distributions. For information on how you can support the Gala with a grant from these sources, email Anne Carper, Philanthropy Manager, at acarper@gggp.org. 

Sponsor Today

Gala for the Gardens 2025 Event Photos

by Drew Altizer Photography

Launch Gallery

Special Guest Speaker
Margaret Renkl

We are thrilled to welcome Margaret Renkl,  author and contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. Known for her lyrical reflections on nature, family, and the complexities of Southern life, Renkl explores the intersections of the natural world and human experience. Renkl is the author of Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss and Graceland, at Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache from the American South, both praised for their keen observation, emotional depth, and graceful prose.

Her most recent work, The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, continues her exploration of everyday beauty and the passage of time, solidifying her reputation as one of the most thoughtful voices in contemporary American nature writing. Her children’s book, The Weedy Garden, illustrated by her brother, Billy Renkl, invites its audience to observe the vibrant ecosystem of a backyard gardener and will be released in early Spring 2026.

Honorees
Ruth & Ken Wilcox

This year we are thrilled to honor exceptional organizational stewards and community ambassadors, Ruth and Ken Wilcox.

Ruth joined the Gardens of Golden Gate Park Board of Directors in 2017 and has served as Vice Chair, Governance Committee Chair, Philanthropy Committee Chair, and Gala Co-Chair in addition to volunteering as a docent and serving on the Capital Campaign committee for a new plant nursery.

Ken has served as chair of the Asia Society Northern California, on the board of the Asian Art Museum and many other organizations. He helped the Gardens develop their first investment committee and policy for a new endowment and currently serves on the Gardens’ Finance Committee.

Their generosity and engagement have been critical to the growth and success of the Gardens.