QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN’S RAMBLING
ROSE GALA HONORS DIME COMMUNITY BANK
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Queens Botanical Garden
(QBG) turned its annual Rose
Gala into a “Rambling Rose
Gala” on Wednesday, June 9.
QBG invited fundraiser
guests to attend in a sociallydistant
manner by rambling
through various gardens and
pathways, and enjoying the
beauty of flowers and breathing
fresh air.
Guests joined tours of
the Rose Garden and Unity
Garden, enjoyed music performances
by MuseConnect,
and viewed architectural renderings
of Queens Botanical
Garden’s future Education
Building.
QBG’s Rose Gala honored
Dime Community Bank for its
commitment to Flushing and
Queens, and raised approximately
$131,725 in support of
the garden — the place where
people, plants and culture
meet.
“We are honored to be recognized
this year at the Queens
Botanical Garden Rambling
Rose Gala. We continue to look
forward to the recovery, and
ultimately the prosperity of
our business community here
in Queens after the unbelievable
challenges of 2020 into
2021,” Kevin O’Connor, CEO of
Dime Community Bank, said.
“As always, we stand ready as
partners today and beyond in
support of this beautiful venue
and all it represents in the
community.”
Throughout the event, Sixty
First Productions, a media
company in Flushing, shared
highlights of the garden
throughout the year and behind
the-scenes commentary
by staff, partners and community
members on how the
garden and local community
were impacted by, and persevered
through, the COVID-19
pandemic.
Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards
presented a proclamation
to QBG Executive Director
Susan Lacerte, announcing
that June 9 is “Susan
Lacerte Day,” to recognize
and thank Lacerte for her
continued dedication to the
Flushing community and
leadership of the garden.
According to Lacerte, 2020
going into 2021 has been a
time like no other, as they adopted
new ways to reach their
audience, to fundraise, and to
(From l. to r.): City Councilman Peter Koo, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, QBG Executive Director Susan Lacerte, CEO of
Dime Community Bank Kevin O’Connor and QBG Board Chair Raymond Jasen. Photos courtesy of QBG
be there for the community.
“It was so nice to see our
supporters in person as they
explored and enjoyed the
blooms and fresh air. They got
to really experience the heart
of what they are supporting—
the Garden as an urban oasis!,”
Lacerte said. “We thank and
TIMESLEDGER | Q 38 NS.COM | JUNE 18-JUNE 24, 2021
honor Dime Community Bank
for all its support, which helps
make what we do possible.”
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–
4526.
/NS.COM
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