Donation feeds growth of garden club

RANCHO SANTA FE — The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club has received a generous commitment of $100,000 by longtime Rancho Santa Fe residents Jere and Joyce Orens. A check in the amount of amount of $25,000, representing the first installment, was received in December.
“I knew we wanted to help in a big way when Joyce and I heard that important financial support of the Garden Club comes from significant donations. We want the Garden Club to know how much they are valued in the community and we look forward to seeing their good mission continued by the next generation of leaders,” said Jere Oren at the Garden club where President Helen DiZio expressed appreciation for the family’s generosity.
“The Garden Club is a very unique venue; not affiliated with the RSF Association,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have its interesting social and cultural events right here in our own neighborhood, run by our own members.”
Jere Oren, originally from Boston, spent his early years in New England and Hawaii. In 1979, he discovered the perfect life in Rancho Santa Fe and made it his home.
“This gift is in the memory of Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Sanger and Helen Gordon Dudley, two wonderful women who were an integral part of my life, and were involved in so many events held at the Garden Club,” Oren said. “It is a source of joy to think of the many friends we made here. A plaque will be installed at the Garden Club in memory of these women and in recognition of this generous gift.”
“We are delighted to receive this check and significant commitment from the Oren family. Their generosity assures us the cost of keeping our lovely building running is well underwritten,” said Helen DiZio. “This way, our day-to-day focus can be on planning fun, interesting and productive activities. We have a great facility and can do so many interesting programs and events. We are only limited by the imagination of our members.”
While the Garden Club has many horticultural activities, as a social club, it offers more. In June 2010, the Garden Club came under new management and since then the club has hosted The Harvest Dinner, Dining by Design, Cures from the Kitchen, Gifts from the Kitchen, a jazz concert, bridge, mahjong, Great Decisions, Petals and Prose, Hypertufa Making, Coffees in the Garden, Holiday Wreath Making, Cal State Educational Series, Scripps Health Lectures, Water Conservation classes, The Sassy Santa Holiday Boutique, and its annual Christmas Dinner.
Upcoming events include Mainly Mozart Concert; Basket-Weaving and Story-Telling Traditions; a tour of Huntington Gardens; a duplicate bridge class with Paul Foster; How to Organize Your Life; Decoupage Revival; Cal State Osher Series; and the annual RSF Garden Tour. The Garden Club is the frequent site of weddings, bar mitzvah, parties and other receptions by members and nonmembers.
The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club was founded in 1926 to further the advancement of gardening and landscaping in the community of Rancho Santa Fe. With more than 300 members, the club serves the community through service, social and educational programs. The club’s primary financial support comes from donations and bequeaths, rental of its facilities, sales in its thrift shop, and membership dues.