Joy and Tradition

David Hooker, President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

It is an honor and privilege to welcome Metro Health as the title sponsor of our Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition. We are very appreciative to Metro Health for their support in helping us present this popular exhibition. 25 years ago, Lena Meijer and a few of her family and friends came up with the idea and worked hard to present the first holiday exhibition. Every year since, Lena can be seen decorating the German Christmas tree and making sure the pickle ornament is carefully placed.

Since the first exhibition, it was important to Lena that we celebrate many holiday traditions, and that practice continues today. Christmas takes a lead role in the exhibition, but many other important celebrations of faith and customs from around the world are also featured. Learn why the Festival of Lights is important in the Hindu tradition. Learn how the important Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated. See examples of spectacular flowers which are part of holiday celebrations for many Vietnamese families. This year’s exhibition includes 46 displays honoring cultures, faith, traditions and holidays from around the world.

The diversity of holidays and heritage we celebrate in the Metro Health Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition represents one of the many ways we work to ensure that Meijer Gardens is a place of joy for all people. Our guiding principles state that we believe in fostering diversity and in offering accessible facilities. We define “diversity” very broadly. It is why we have a board-level committee dedicated to creating an inclusive guest, member, volunteer and employee experience at Meijer Gardens. It is why we have contracted with a highly qualified professional to advise, train and inspire us to ensure that diversity is an intimate and permanent part of our culture at all levels. It is why we named our capital campaign, Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love.

Through this capital campaign, parts of the expansion project have been completed and you, our members, have been putting them to good use. For the next year and a half, the focus of the project will be the continued construction of the Welcome Center, the installation of Utopia by Jaume Plensa and the completion of our new parking lot. We continue to be grateful to all of you for your patience as we work to make our facilities even better and more welcoming.

From left to right: Rev. Jim Carlson, Grand Rapids Township Supervisor Marsha Bouwkamp, Fred and Lena Meijer, Betty Ford, President Gerald Ford, Michigan Governor John Engler, Senator Carl Levin.

Over 12 million people have visited Meijer Gardens to experience the joy of our mission. April 20, 2020 will mark the 25th anniversary of the day when Fred and Lena Meijer, President and Mrs. Ford, Senator Levin and others cut the ribbon to open Meijer Gardens. We look forward to reaching this milestone and have a bright future due to the generosity, leadership and dedication of Fred and Lena Meijer, the Meijer family, our donor community and our amazingly wonderful volunteers and staff.

We have many exhibitions, education programs and events that have become traditions. As a team, we are constantly working to improve and make them always growing, always beautiful and always new. Sometimes we try something, and it doesn’t work out as well as we hoped it would. We are grateful for your feedback and patience as we strive to make things better. This positive and constructive attitude is a gift we appreciate.

Meijer Gardens is honored to be a part of the West Michigan cultural community. There are many institutions that have other offerings which are well worth a visit. Recently, The Grand Rapids Art Museum presented Maya Lin: Flow. It was a fantastic exhibition exploring Lin’s artwork and water. Congratulations to our friends at the GRAM.

Gratefully,

David S. Hooker President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park