Looking to add a feel-good factor to an event without incorporating a full-blown fund-raising component? Here are four vendors that support charities while serving an event's purpose.
1. Botanical garden Harry P. Leu Gardens has 2,200 square feet of event space available for private events, the revenue from which goes toward the upkeep of the 50-acre property. There are four event spaces—Camellia, Orchid, Rose, and conference rooms—that can host events for groups of 20 to 180 people. The property can provide rental items and has a list of six caterers for planners to utilize.
2. Orlando's CityArts Factory is a nonprofit gallery and event venue downtown. While the factory receives partial funding from the city, revenue generated by private events held at the space supports the gallery's operating costs, which include weekly public events and local artist to showcases. The venue's 8,000-square-foot first floor can host receptions for about 200 people, though smaller dinner parties for 50 can be held in one of the six galleries. Sak Comedy Lab on the second floor can also be used for events, though its revenue benefits the club exclusively.
3. Event floral company Greenery Productions Inc. in Orlando has taken the donation of returned event flowers an extra step with the involvement of local high school students. Greenery president Linda Grier’s daughter Kathryn started the Peace Petals program 2008. When flowers come back to the company following an event, teens from Olympia and Dr. Phillips high schools gather the flowers and reorganize them into new arrangements, which the students then donate to the Health Central Elderly Care Center. Recently the nursing home’s executive board adopted the program to provide the students with vases and other supplies needed for making the new floral arrangements for donation.
