Milwaukee, Wis., March 9, 2015 – Experience the opening weekend of That’s Amore!, the spring show at the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes), for free, courtesy of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. The Foundation’s March Gift to the Community includes free, all-access admission to The Domes on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, with fun for the whole family.
As the Greater Milwaukee Foundation marks 100 years of service in 2015, it is showcasing resources that contribute to the quality of life in the region and inviting the whole community to join in the celebration.
“The Domes have been an educational and cultural icon in Milwaukee since the 1960s, an expression of local ingenuity and of the great respect the people of Wisconsin have for the natural world,” said Ellen M. Gilligan, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “We are excited to offer everyone an opportunity to visit this one-of-a-kind landmark as well as to experience how our local parks enrich our lives every day.”
The themed exhibit That’s Amore! will fill the Show Dome with the aroma of Mediterranean herbs and scented geraniums surrounding a rustic courtyard reminiscent of an Italian countryside. The Arid Dome showcases plant life that thrives in desert regions while the Tropical Dome is home to a rich diversity of plants from the rainforests of five continents.
On Saturday, March 28, The Domes will be open free to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additionally, the Winter Farmer’s Market will be hosted in the conservatory greenhouses from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Sunday, March 29, The Domes will be open for free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature Very Fairy Princess Day; guests are invited to build a fairy garden, learn fairy dances, and meet fairies, wizards and princesses. Children wearing their fairy wings or costumes may win a prize.
No tickets or reservations are required to visit The Domes during the Gifts to the Community weekend.
“We are thrilled to have been selected to partner with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. “This Gift to the Community gives everyone – including out-of-town guests – the opportunity to see one of the jewels of the Milwaukee County Park System. With five themed shows a year, numerous ethnic festivals, live concerts, and other special events, The Domes is a destination that offers something new with each visit. We look forward to a ‘full house’ for the event!”
The Domes are located at 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, in Mitchell Park. Although the original conservatory dated back to 1898, the modern Domes opened in stages from 1964 to 1967. A major revitalization completed in 2008 included a signature LED lighting project supported in part by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and its donors.
Additional details about the March Gift to the Community are available at greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/gifts.
So far in 2015, more than 34,300 people have taken advantage of the special opportunities offered through the Foundation’s centennial Gifts to the Community. New gifts are being revealed each month on FOX 6 Milwaukee.
For a century, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has helped individuals, families and organizations realize their philanthropic goals and make a difference in the community, during their lifetimes and for future generations. The Foundation consists of more than 1,200 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. The Foundation also deploys both human and financial resources to address the most critical needs of the community and ensure the vitality of the region.
Started in 1915, the Foundation was one of the first community foundations in the world. With a total asset base of more than $847 million, it is also among the largest.
