I hope I don’t jinx it — but I think spring finally is here to stay!
May starts the Munroe-Meyer Guild’s final countdown to the Garden Walk, which is always held on the second Sunday of June — June 9 this year. The Guild works all year to make this event the most successful garden walk in Omaha.
See more information and get tickets for the Garden Walk.
As the Garden Walk prepares for its 51st event — more than a half century of partnering with the Munroe-Meyer Institute to support innovative institute programming — we recently hosted our annual Homeowners Gathering so the 2019 homeowners could meet one another, as well meet our guild members and MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D. The gathering was held at the restored Storz Mansion, which owners Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., associate director of MMI, and his wife, Rhonda, opened for all to tour. The gathering is the highlight of the year for me, because Dr. Mirnics uses the occasion to share his passion for MMI and its invaluable impact on families in our community.
Comments from the homeowners ranged from, “I had heard of MMI but never knew all the services it provided to Nebraska,” to “I knew about MMI and some of the work they do, but it is so much more than I ever imagined — I am so excited to be a small part of this event.” Dr. Mirnics also spoke of new programs, including adaptive technologies, patient care coordinators, adult programing, the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Caring for Champions, a partnership with Special Olympics that includes dental, vision and weight and nutrition care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It was inspiring!
Of course, we always wish for a perfect day for the walk, but it is held “rain or shine.” The Garden Walk is a magical day because more than 900 people stroll through beautiful, unknown gardens for ideas that they can create in their own yards.
But the best part? The Garden Walk helps fund the Munroe-Meyer Guild’s support of MMI initiatives and programs, which in the past have included programs such as the GoBabyGo! events, where volunteers customize toy cars to create safe, mobile vehicles for young children with mobility issues, and the OpPOURtunity Brews coffee cart, which provides a job-training site for adults with IDD. Who knows what exciting ideas this year’s event may bring to life?
Enjoy the 2019 Garden Walk! We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Luann Rabe
President
Munroe-Meyer Guild