KNOX Garden Party

Join Us for the KNOX Garden Party – Fundraising Gala!

Thursday, August 14, 2025 | Church of the Good Shepherd Lawn, Hartford, CT

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the Garden Party, KNOX’s annual fundraising gala. This exciting event will take place under a tent on the beautiful lawn of the Church of the Good Shepherd, home to one of KNOX’s 21 community gardens in Hartford. Join us on Thursday, August 14, 2025, for a celebration of the season with fresh, seasonal food, live music, dancing, and an elegant masquerade theme that promises to enchant.

The Garden Party is a unique opportunity to support KNOX’s mission to create a greener, healthier Hartford. Your participation contributes to enhancing our local green spaces and sustainability initiatives throughout the city.

Ready to purchase your tickets now, go to: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/KNOXGardenParty25

What to Expect

Live Music & Dancing
Enjoy a harp performance by Sean O’Reilly and DJ sets from William Ortiz under the stars.

Fresh, Seasonal Small Plates
Savor delicious bites from top local restaurants, including David Alan Hospitality Group, Fire by Forge, Gather 55, J Bar, and Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard.

Special Guest Emcee
Hosted by Symphonie Privett, Emmy-nominated FOX61 anchor and reporter.

Garden, Church, and Tree Tours
Take a self-guided stroll through the community garden. Learn about the historic Church of the Good Shepherd or join a tree walk highlighting KNOX’s planting efforts.

Silent Auction
Bid on unique experiences, local treasures, and more in support of a greener Hartford.

Masquerade Theme
Add a touch of mystery by wearing your favorite masquerade mask and dressing for a night of garden party elegance.

Ticket Information

• $150 General Admission
  Flash Sale: $125 (Thursday, August 7 through Wednesday, August 13)
• $200 VIP Ticket
  Includes a tote bag and Hartford-grown goodies
• $1,600 VIP Table for 8
  Includes tote bags and Hartford-grown goodies for all guests

To purchase your tickets now, go to: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/KNOXGardenParty25

The 2025 Pollinator Awards

This year’s honorees:

• Ellis Echevarria, in memory, for his inspiring legacy

Ellis Echevarria was an award-winning art director and distinguished artist whose career spanned more than three decades and multiple continents. Blending classic design principles with urban culture, he brought to life some of the world’s most recognizable brands through collaborations with leaders including ESPN, UConn, the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Northrop Grumman, and The Amistad Foundation for Art & Culture.

Rooted in his Hartford upbringing, Ellis’s fine art and digital works reflected both his heritage and his unique perspective. His pieces earned numerous awards and found homes in private collections around the world. His art was exhibited at The Wadsworth Atheneum, The Craftery Gallery, Pump House Gallery, West Hartford Art League, EBK Gallery, and Wiedner Gallery.

A passionate advocate for both the arts and the environment, Ellis served on several boards, including the Hartford Commission on Cultural Affairs, the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund, Hartford Communities That Care, and Pump House Gallery. His commitment to a greener, more vibrant Hartford shone through in his artistry—he designed and created the inaugural KNOX Pollinator Award, a lasting symbol honoring those who advance beauty, collaboration, and sustainability in the city. In 2025, he will be posthumously honored with this award. Ellis also gave generously to nonprofits, donating both his artwork and his time.

Ellis is survived by his beloved wife, children, mother, and extended family, who carry forward his legacy of creativity, generosity, and passion.

• Charlie and Pamela Hilborn, recognized for their leadership in KNOX’s Planters Program

For over a decade, Charlie and Pamela Hilborn have been passionate supporters of KNOX and champions of beautifying the Elmwood Business District. As owners of Sheehan Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, they understand the importance of legacy and community. Charlie envisioned enhancing Elmwood’s charm through the KNOX Planter Program, and thanks to his tireless efforts and the generosity of several local businesses, vibrant KNOX planters have brought joy and color to New Britain Avenue for the past ten years.

Every year, Charlie visits businesses throughout the community to generate interest and foster connections. With Pamela’s unwavering support, their efforts have not only beautified Elmwood but also helped sustain and stabilize the KNOX planter program citywide.

As Charlie shares, “This was a dream to help enhance the community where I grew up, raised my family, and continue to live and work.” Thanks to the Hilborns’ dedication, 40 to 60 planters add vibrant color to the street each year while supporting KNOX’s broader mission throughout Hartford.

• Carey Shea, celebrated for her work at Zion Hill Cemetery and in neighborhoods across Hartford

Carey Shea is a fourth-generation Hartford resident. Alongside good friends and neighbors Marcus Ordoñez and Rhodee Gine, she co-chairs the Frog Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization Zone. She serves as a commissioner on the Hartford Historic Preservation Commission and, with lifelong friend Susan Jaafar, co-founded the Friends of Zion Hill Cemetery. Carey lives in the historic Frog Hollow neighborhood with her husband and chief tree planter, Calvin Parker.

Carey spent 40 years in community development, working with a range of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations including East NY Urban Youth Corps, LISC, Surdna Foundation, Habitat for Humanity NYC, Rockefeller Foundation, Greater New Orleans Foundation, Project Home Again, Home by Hand, Inc., and the City of New Orleans as an affordable housing developer, grant maker, organizer, and policy advocate.

In retirement, Carey devotes herself to making Hartford a more beautiful, cherished, cleaner, and greener place.

To purchase your tickets now, go to: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/KNOXGardenParty25