The Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF) celebrated its 60th Anniversary at the City Council Meeting on Jan. 21.
President Patty Dunlap, along with other PBF trustees and advisors, presented Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen and the City Council with a $60,000 check in recognition of the milestone. The funds are designated for refreshing and enhancing many of the projects PBF has completed in partnership with the city over the past six decades. Mayor Andersen responded with a Proclamation expressing gratitude to PBF “for its vision, leadership, and generous partnership.” The Proclamation officially recognizes and celebrates the Foundation’s 60th Anniversary.
The Piedmont Beautification Foundation was established in Spring 1964 when the Piedmont Garden Club proposed creating a trust with the city to ensure a permanent source of funds for beautifying parks, the Community Center, street plantings, and other civic improvements. The City Council embraced the idea, and on May 13, 1964, PBF was incorporated with eight trustees: three appointed by the city and five by Piedmont Garden Club. The Foundation’s first president was Mrs. Herbert Dunn.
A legacy of leadership
Over the years, PBF has benefitted from a strong partnership with the city. Typically, the mayor, vice mayor, and chair of the Park Commission have been among the city-appointed trustees. In total, 31 members of the Piedmont Garden Club have served as PBF president, supported by countless other club members who served as trustees or advisors.
Many PBF leaders have also held key roles within the city. Currently, four former or sitting Mayors serve as trustees or advisors: Betsy Smegal Andersen, Jen Cavenaugh, Bob McBain, and Valerie Matzger. President Patty Dunlap is a past chair of the Park Commission, and other trustees and advisors with ties to the city or schools include Tom Smegal, Susan Herrick, Nancy McHugh, Bobbe Stehr, Patty Siskind and Cameron Wolfe, Jr.
Impactful projects
As Mayor Andersen noted in her Proclamation, “PBF has successfully partnered with the City to complete scores of projects throughout the City, including improvements to City Hall, Piedmont Park, the Tea House, the Hall Fenway, the Exedra Gates and surrounding area, the Linda, Kingston Triangle, the Ramona Triangle and installation of the Bufano Bears Sculpture in Crocker Park”. More recently, PBF has contributed to safety and sustainability initiatives, including one of the largest donations to the new swimming pool project, second only to that of PRFO. This donation will fund environmentally appropriate landscaping around the pool.
Endowments for the future
PBF established its first endowment fund in 1991, with an initial gift from Winifred Brown Bell. PBF has worked hard to grow this fund substantially, safeguarding existing and future projects and ensuring funds during lean times. In 2017, a second endowment fund was created, thanks to gifts from John Bates, Jr. and Charles Bates, to provide ongoing maintenance for the city’s sports facilities.
Honoring key leaders
No discussion of PBF history would be complete without nods to two of its most prolific Presidents, Barbara Magee and Jean Brown Wolfe. Both women served four years instead of the typical two and oversaw some of PBF’s most impactful projects. Their contributions are commemorated on City property: Barbara Magee at the Exedra overlook area and Jean Brown Wolfe at the garden surrounding the Tea House.
A year of celebration
To mark its 60th Anniversary, PBF has planned a series of events and activities. Over the next month, news articles will highlight PBF’s key projects, accompanied by games such as word finders, crosswords, and spelling bees. The Wednesday Walkers group will visit various PBF project sites over three weeks, and a walking map will be published to guide residents to these locations. President Patty Dunlap expressed her excitement: “We hope everyone will find a way to participate in the celebration of PBF’s 60 years and support our future endeavors.”