Philanthropy & Membership
NEW PHILANTHROPY AWARD
by Wendy Belser, Vice-President of Philanthropy
In 2017, Brookgreen Gardens
established Th e John S. Rainey
Philanthropy Award, named in honor
of the late philanthropist and advocate,
who served as a Trustee (1994-2015),
Chairman (1997-2011),
and Huntington Society
Member (1995-2015) at
Brookgreen Gardens. John
Rainey was elected a Life
Trustee and Chairman Emeritus
in 2011 and a Perpetual Member
in 2015. His participation and
generosity extended throughout
his lifetime in support of
numerous organizations and
communities with which he and his
family were closely involved.
Th e John S. Rainey Philanthropy
Award will annually recognize an
individual who has demonstrated
outstanding philanthropic commitment
to Brookgreen Gardens and who
exemplifi es the leadership and ideals
of the award’s namesake. Inaugurated
on October 20, 2017, at Brookgreen’s
annual Huntington Society Reception
and Dinner, the award was presented
to Benedict P. Rosen, Chairman of
the Board since 2010, by Dr.
Hal B. Holmes, Jr., Vice
Chairman, and Page H.
Kiniry, President and
CEO. Also in attendance
were 100 Huntington
Society members, Rainey
and Rosen family members
and friends, and senior
staff members. Th e 2017
award is a bronze sculpture called
Whisper, created by Montana sculptor
Stephanie Revennaugh. It was modeled
after Revennaugh’s own horse, Smokey
Dehere, a rescue thoroughbred, a choice
that was especially appropriate as this
cause was one of John Rainey’s passions.
Honoree Dick Rosen with his wife, Brenda, and their family.
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