Letter from the President

In November 2021, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Welcome Center and Jaume Plensa’s masterpiece sculpture Utopia were dedicated. The dedication was in the form of a toast to all people—celebrating the idea that beauty is part of the answer to our cares and honoring the love we share for all of humanity to live in peace.

Utopia celebrates all people. It is made of one material: white Vietnamese marble. As we are all one people, the material of Utopia is all one. At the same time, we are all unique and different, as is each face of Utopia. This is truly something we can celebrate together. When you visit, take time to notice how the beauty of Utopia celebrates the diversity of all people.

Meijer Gardens is fortunate to have some of the finest objects humanity has ever produced. Worldclass art, highly curated gardens and amazing facilities define our physical layout. The objects stimulate the senses and inspire your mind. Yet their finest purpose is to connect people, promote high ideals and enrich lives by bringing people joy. Fred Meijer defined this goal when ground was broken in 1993 for our first building. He stated his hope that Meijer Gardens would make the world “more whole.”

Our mission is to promote the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts. The action in that statement is promoting enjoyment through art, gardens, and a love of the natural environment. It is why Fred and Lena Meijer and the Meijer family made this amazing place possible. It is why thousands of you have come forward to support our mission. It is why hundreds of dedicated people work and volunteer here each day to bring joy to people, using all the resources entrusted to us to advance our mission.

The title of our campaign to build these new facilities contained the words “Welcoming the World.” It is our desire to welcome all people to Meijer Gardens. To help ensure all people can experience our mission and be inspired, we established the Amway-Meijer, Inc. Fund for Education. Through the generosity of leads gifts from Amway and Meijer, Inc., a significant challenge grant from Candace and Bruce Matthews, and many individual gifts, we have already secured $325,000 in funding. One hundred percent of the gifts will go directly to underserved children to fund their transportation, programming and admission costs. This effort joins other programs we participate in, such as Museums for All, Grand Rapids Public Library’s Check It Out, and Kent District Library’s Perk Pass, to improve access to Meijer Gardens.

In 2006, we first dedicated the Volunteer Tribute Garden, which honors the enormous contributions made by our volunteers to bring joy to others. The garden was a collective effort of many people. Edith (Edie) Fleming was a leader in making the garden possible. She gave generously of her time and talent in the Horticulture department. When the idea of a Volunteer Tribute Garden was proposed, she stepped forward with a significant contribution. Edie’s efforts and gifts are why you see a boulder with her name on it at the garden entrance.

Due to our growth, we completely rebuilt the Volunteer Tribute Garden and updated the important sculpture The Tribute, by Oliviero Rainaldi. The Tribute honors all our volunteers, including Fred and Lena Meijer. We rededicated the garden on April 20, 2022—also the 27th anniversary of the opening of Meijer Gardens.

In 2008, Michele Oka Doner created and installed Beneath the Leafy Crown, helping define the Meijer Gardens art and garden experience. This monumental sculpture allows you to be part of an art experience throughout the BISSELL Corridor. Beneath the Leafy Crown represents objects you might find on the floor of a Michigan forest. Over the years, millions of people have had this magnificent work of art beneath their feet and been captivated by its beauty. With the BISSELL Corridor and Sculpture Galleries expansions, Beneath the Leafy Crown was completely refurbished and restored. Take a moment to imagine how the bronze elements are inspired by nature.

As members, you help make Meijer Gardens possible. Your membership is critical in sustaining Meijer Gardens and is sincerely appreciated. We hope you will visit often.

Gratefully,

David S. Hooker President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Edith (Edie) Fleming

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Honorary Chairman

Frederik Meijer (1919–2011)

Honorary Member

Earl Holton

President & CEO

David Hooker

Ex Officio Member President of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation

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