Queens Botanical Garden Executive Director Susan Lacerte will celebrate an extraordinary birthday in extraordinary fashion. The garden will hold a fundraising luncheon in honor of Lacerte’s 14th leap year QBG birthday and her goal of raising more than $50,000 to support seasonal interns and QBG volunteer groups.

Lacerte hopes the fundraising campaign will help provide promising young people with exposure to careers in horticulture, gardening, and the nonprofit sector. Her commitment has already inspired generous contributions from the Queens community. Gina Argento, President and co-owner of film production facility Broadway Stages, was the first supporter to donate a full intern scholarship. “What inspires me,” said Ms. Argento, “is how passionate Susan and her team are to share their knowledge and expertise with the youth of Queens.”

QBG received yet another full scholarship from New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) President and CEO of NYCB Joseph Ficalora, who believes that appeals like Lacerte’s provide opportunities for the local business community to be responsive to the needs of the surrounding community.

Donations of all sizes for this campaign have been received since mid-January and the Garden looks forward to further support at Lacerte’s birthday luncheon on February 29. For more information on Susan Lacerte’s Leap Year Birthday fundraising campaign or to contribute, call Darcy Hector at 718- 886-3800, ext. 30 or email dhector@queensbotanical.org.