The Society of American Florists’ annual fundraiser for its political action fund tallied almost $47,000 in contributions, pledges and sponsorship dollars at SAF Phoenix 2023 — breaking last year’s record of just over $40,000.
“A strong SAFPAC helps amplify SAF’s voice on Capitol Hill — and thanks to the support of the industry, SAFPAC is in the strongest financial position it has been in 15 years,” says SAF Senior Lobbyist Joe Bischoff. “We need to keep the momentum for SAFPAC going as we head into election season.”
The event entertainment was a design challenge emceed by Tim Farrell, AAF, AIFD, PFCI of Farrell’s Florist in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Three designers, Jodi McShan, AIFD, AAF; Vonda LaFever, AIFD, PFCI, and Adam Havrilla, AIFD, ICPF, PFCI, took to the stage to earn audience support in the form of SAFPAC pledges for their designs. But they quickly learned there was a twist — rather than design the arrangements, they would have to coach a non-designer on how to assemble the flowers. Farrell auctioned off surprise items that had to be incorporated into the final arrangements — including lemons, a Barbie doll and wrapping paper — and audience members voted for their favorite arrangement via SAFPAC pledges.
The event raised nearly $20,000 in pledges for SAFPAC. Ticket sales and sponsorships contributed to nearly $27,000 more in funds.
SAFPAC is the only national political action committee dedicated to advocating for the floral industry. One hundred percent of the cost of each ticket for the event, along with money raised during the design challenge, will be used to help elect floriculture-friendly members of Congress.
SAF focuses its contributions on members of Congress who influence the industry’s top legislative and regulatory priorities. At the fundraiser, Bischoff highlighted some of SAF’s big advocacy wins and emphasized the important role that SAFPAC plays in the strategy to get those wins across the finish line. At SAF’s upcoming 44th annual Congressional Action Days, March 18-19 in Washington, D.C., and throughout the coming year, SAF will work to ensure the recent hard-fought increases in floriculture research funding levels are maintained; advocate for retroactive reinstatement of GSP; and work with the USDA to maintain access to essential crop protections amidst changing pesticide regulations, including the recent Vulnerable Species Pilot Program.
Want to learn more about SAFPAC? The first step is signing a prior approval form online. This allows SAF to communicate with you about what SAFPAC is doing and alert you to future SAFPAC events. This permission is required by law. Questions? Contact Katie Butler.
Katie Butler is the senior vice president of the Society of American Florists.
