Cleveland CulturalGarden Federation

Peace Through Mutual Understanding

2018ANNUAL REPORT

Moving into the future, with youThe Cleveland Cultural Gardens will continue to thrive by becoming ever more inclusive and welcoming of new cultures, and by making Rockefeller Park a premier destination spot for neighborhood friends and visitors from all over the world.

Our future will involve the development of mobile app tours, teacher resource guides, discussions of multiculturalism in our new plaza, concerts, outdoor theater, and much more. The possibilities are endless for a cultural treasure whose full potential has yet to be realized.

We can’t move forward, however, without the support of everyone who loves the Cultural Gardens. Your ideas, your volunteer participation and your financial support are needed to guarantee a healthy and vital future. We are excited to be of service and to share our mission and vision with all our partners and guests. Please join us!

For information about any of the CCGF’s projects or events, or any of the Cultural Gardens, contact:

Lori AshykExecutive DirectorCleveland Cultural Gardens Federation216-220-3075l.ashyk@clevelandculturalgardens.org

For our calendar of events, visit our website at:www.clevelandculturalgardens.org

To become a Friend of the Cultural Gardens or to make a donation, click on the XX tabs.

Save these 2019 dates!

Earth Day volunteer clean-up: April 27Juneteenth in the African-American Garden: June 15

Liszt concert in the Hungarian Garden: June XOpera in the Italian Garden: July 28

ONE WORLD DAY: AUG. 25

Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation10823 Magnolia Drive • Cleveland, Ohio 44106

About the Cleveland Cultural GardensThe Cleveland Cultural Gardens are a collection of ethnic and nationality gardens in Rockefeller Park. Established in 1916, they are an expression of Cleveland’s immigrant past, present and future.

As of early 2019, there were 31 officially dedicated gardens and seven more were “in development,” meaning they are being designed and built.

The gardens represent cultures in Europe, Africa, Asia, India, the Middle East, North America and Central America, along with the African American, Native American and Russian communities.

This collection, which is unique in the world, includes more than 70 statues of prominent cultural icons – writers, musicians, scientists and philosophers - from around the world, along with symbolic monuments and abundant floral landscaping. Some gardens feature written histories of their cultures, and information about their contribution to the world.

The mission of the Cultural Gardens is “peace through mutual understanding.”

Note: The city of Cleveland owns Rockefeller Park, and non-profit sponsoring organizations (often nationality groups or museums) manage each of the gardens. The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation works to preserve and promote all the gardens, and acts as a liaison to the city and partnering organizations.

Executive Board

Executive Committee Wael Khoury, M.D. Sheila Crawford, past presidentPaul Burik , vice president, past presidentThomas Turkaly, vice presidentSam Tanious, CPA - treasurerPaula Tilisky – recording secretaryTom Strohman – executive sectretary

Members Pierre Bejjani Yvonne Conwell Carl EwingMehmet GencerQaisra Haider Dan Hanson Debbie Hanson Dozia Krislaty Erika Puussaar Svetlana Stolyarova George Terbrack

Opera in the Italian Gardens Lake Catholic Volunteers Syrian garden

One World Day

Hebrew Garden in Parade of Flags- One World Day

Naturalization Ceremony - One World Day

Mexican delegation in One World Day Parade

One World Day Parade

In 2018, for the 73rd straight year, the CCGF hosted Cleveland’s biggest multicultural extravaganza, One World Day.

For the first time ever, One World Day invited cultural groups in Cleveland not represented in the gardens to participate in the Parade of Flags. All told, 37 groups marched in the parade, carrying signs and flags, some singing, some dancing. Emceed by the CCGF’s past president Sheila Crawford and WOIO anchor Chris Tanaka, the parade was a truly festive tribute to the Cleveland’s diverse ethnic heritage.

One World Day 2019 drew 15,000 attendees and featured, along with the parade, a naturalization ceremony for new citizens of the United States and food, music and dance in each of the Cultural Gardens. The beer garden in the German Cultural Garden, along with food trucks and vendors also helped make the day a success.

Financial reportThe Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation in 2018 implemented ambitious plans for growth by hiring an executive director (through a grant from the Cleveland Foundation) and continuing its capital campaign to build the Centennial Peace Plaza. Below are separate figures for the general operating fund and One World Day and the plaza.

General operating budget (actual, unaudited)

Income: $94,023 Expenses: $59,005Income includes grant revenue, ticket sales from the annual installation dinner and holiday parties for delegates,

and membership dues. Expenses include payroll costs, event expenses, marketing, printing and office equipment and supplies.

One World Day (actual, unaudited)

Income: $55,634.83 Expenses: $40,837.88Income includes sponsorship revenue, ad sales, vendor fees and beer garden sales. Expenses include payments

to producer Johnny Wu and his staff, equipment rental, private security, printing of program booklets, volunteer recognition and other costs.

Centennial Peace Plaza (as of 12/31/18)Government and foundation grants:Cuyahoga County: $150,000Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources: $122,500Cleveland Foundation: $100,000The George Gund Foundation: $100,000Northeast Ohio Sewer District: $100,000Catherine and Edward Lozick Foundation: $10,000Corporate donations:Key Bank: $50,000Medical Mutual: $5000Cuyahoga Community College: $5000IMet Corp: $5000Individuals:Fran and Jules Belkin: $25,000Wael and Sawssan Khoury: $25,000Richard and Ann Pogue: $10,000Alex and Carol Machaskee: $10,000Margaret Wong: $10,000Burik/PTAK: $5000Sheila and Bob Crawford: $5000The Datta Family: $5000Eddi Ni

Friends,

In 2018, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation honored its proud past by preparing for a solid and bright future.

The 102-year-old organization has long believed that the Cultural Gardens are one of Cleveland’s hidden treasures, teaming with stories of the region’s multicultural past, present and future. The Federation has wanted to share this wonderful cultural expression of Cleveland’s people that too few residents and visitors appreciate.

In 2016, the CCGF set a goal to draw more visitors to the Gardens, by using them more often for educational, cultural and civic events – in other words, to make the Cultural Gardens an even bigger destination spot for tourists and residents.

• Now, the foundation has been laid to realize that goal. Not only are more gardens coming to life (and older gardens being restored), but the Federation, as their representative organization, has put into action the following plans:

• Creation of a Centennial Peace Plaza consisting of a circular plaza, a stage and amphitheater seating. Most of the funds for basic construction had been raised by late 2018, design and engineering plans were completed;

• The hiring of an executive director to manage the organization’s growth, through a generous grant from the Cleveland Foundation;

• Establishing an advisory board to consult on programming and other strategic initiatives;• Development of new partnerships which will lead to new programming. The CCGF is

particularly grateful to the Famicos Foundation in Glenville, which is creating a visitors’ center for the Cultural Gardens.

• Closer collaboration with the City of Cleveland to explore such issues as new parking and restroom facilities, and allocation of land for new gardens.

We are proud of our achievements in 2018 because they hold so much promise for what is to come: a new gathering space, new programs, new gardens, and more individuals and groups from the community involved in our mission.

We believe in our mission of “peace through mutual understanding,” and we hope to spread its message to everyone who visits the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. We hope that our initiatives will foster greater understanding of our region’s, and our country’s many cultures. That has been the vision of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens for more than 100 years, and we need it now more than ever.

Sincerely,

Wael Khoury, MDExecutive Board PresidentCleveland Cultural Gardens Federation

Advisory BoardJohn Analiefo, Famicos FoundationJules Belkin Hannah Belsito, Destination ClevelandLenora Inez Brown, Circle Neighbors, Cleveland Leadership InstituteJoe Cimperman, Global ClevelandDavid Fleshler, Case Western Reserve UniversityDan Hanson, International Hall of Fame, Cleveland PeopleHeather Hodges, Cleveland Council on World AffairsJill Koski, Holden Forest and GardensKen Kovach, ICC-WINLillian Kuri, Cleveland FoundationAlex Lackey, City of ClevelandAlex MachaskeeValarie McCall, City of ClevelandVictoria Mills, Doan Brook PartnersJoan Katz Napoli, Cleveland OrchestraRichard Pogue, Jones DayChris Ronayne, University Circle Inc.Carina Van Vliet, Cleveland Council on World AffairsMarjorie Williams, Cleveland Museum of ArtMargaret WongDr. Nizar Zein, Cleveland Clinic Global Patient Services

As the Cultural Gardens celebrated its 100th birthday in 2016, members of the executive board wanted to honor its history and ensure it a vibrant future. Recognizing that the Gardens lacked a central gathering space with lighting and a stage, the team decided to develop a plaza for all the region to enjoy.

The project, now called the Centennial Peace Plaza, is well on its way to becoming a reality, thanks to the generosity of government, foundation, and individual donors.

Design plans call for a 100-foot-wide circular plaza with permeable pavers, amphitheater seating, electricity and capacity for sound, and ample lighting. The project’s architect is Berj Shakarian.

Our vision is to use the plaza, which will be on the Martin Luther King Boulevard level, near the Hungarian Cultural Garden and across from St. Casimir’s Way, for performing arts and educational and civic forums. We are reaching out to schools and engaging with institutional partners to make that happen. The CCGF also is working with the city of Cleveland to improve parking access to the Cultural Gardens for events at the plaza and for day-to-day visitors.

We will share updates about our construction schedule on our website and look forward to a joyous dedication.

THANK YOUThe Centennial Peace Plaza

2018: a great year for the Gardens The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are beautiful locations in which to host activities – particularly those which celebrate the countries and cultures represented in the Gardens.

In 2018, festive events were many. To prepare for them and for the future, several of the individual gardens also made repairs or added new statues, enhancing the beauty of the Cultural Gardens and enriching our understanding of cultural history.

Among the many activities;• The dedication of the new Russian Cultural Garden, featuring a “walk-of-fame,” or stone

pavements engraved with the names of all the Russian greats – Pushkin, Tolstoy, Tchaikovsky, Nureyev, Pavlova and about 90 others

• Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden, drawing thousands and featuring the Cleveland Opera and the Cleveland Ballet; the garden also installed four new benches

• A Juneteenth celebration, jazz concerts and a joint yard clean-up day with the Hebrew Garden – all at the African-American Cultural Garden

• In the Serbian Garden, a statue of Nadezda Petrovic, famed impressionist painter and humanitarian

• The annual Liszt Concert in the Hungarian Garden, which also celebrate its 80th year• Repairs and installations of water systems and other improvements in the Lithuanian, Croatian

and Armenian Gardens• The Czech Garden, along with several others, celebrated the 100th anniversaries of their

countries’ independence, with talks, food and music, and new plantings• In the Polish Garden, a visit by the Polish secretary of state, who spoke at a joint press conference

with Cong. Marci Kaptur

These events, in addition to day-to-day garden maintenance, are testament to the hard work and dedication of their sponsoring organizations. The Federation thanks all our members!

Gia Ryan in Vietnamese Garden Syrian Garden at new statue dedication

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation is grateful to the following for their support of our Centennial Peace Plaza:

Cuyahoga CountyHolden Parks TrustThe Cleveland FoundationThe George Gund FoundationThe Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesNEORSDKey BankMedical MutalCuyahoga Community College

Fran and Jules BelkinWael & Sawssan KhouryMargaret WongCatherine and Edward LozickFoundationIMet Corp.Alex and Carol MachaskeeRichard and Ann PougeBurik/PTAK TrustThe Datta FamilyEddi Ni

THE CENTENNIAL PLAZA COMMITTEE:

Tom TurkalyPaul BurikMehmet GencerCarolyn BeloghSheila CrawfordBerj ShakarianLori AshykWael Khoury