Thirty-two people attended the fundraising dinner this year, and more than $2,800 was raised for The American Floral Endowment’s Tom Butler Family Fund.
For the third consecutive year, industry members from across the country gathered to honor and celebrate the life of the late Tom Butler, AAF, PFCI, and his legacy in the floral industry.
The annual fundraising dinner was held on March 13 at Butler’s favorite restaurant, The Capital Grille in Washington, D.C., following the Society of American Florists‘ annual Congressional Action Days event.
Thirty-two people attended the dinner this year, and more than $2,800 was raised for The American Floral Endowment’s Tom Butler Family Fund.
Butler died in 2014, after a battle with cancer.
“Each year, more industry members join us for this event. It’s great to get together and share stories about Tom’s kindness, friendship, virtue and leadership qualities, and share Tom’s legacy with future generations, said Tim Galea, president of Norton’s Flowers & Gifts in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and the organizer of the event.
Butler, who was inducted in 2012 to SAF’s Floriculture Hall of Fame, was a longtime, devoted advocate for AFE, beginning with his service as a trustee in 2006. He served as development chairman from 2008-2014, as chairman from 2010-2012 and was later appointed as an emeritus trustee.
Born in Detroit, Butler joined American Floral Services (AFS) as president and CEO in 1985 and in 2000 led the company’s successful merger with Teleflora, creating the world’s largest flowers-by-wire company. As Teleflora chairman, he guided Teleflora as a trusted business partner, national marketer and technology innovator for independent retail florists.
Read more about the dinner or make a contribution to The Tom Butler Family Fund. (Be sure to specify the Tom Butler Fund in the description).
