Bartram’s Garden to honor Nancy A. Goldenberg and Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc. at Twilight in the Garden on October 4.

PHILADELPHIA-SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 –
Bartram’s Garden will host its annual benefit gala, Twilight in the Garden on Friday, October 4, 5:30–9:30pm. Tickets are now available at www.bartramsgarden.org/twilight
On July 9 it announced the event’s 2024 honorees, Nancy A. Goldenberg and Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc., including subsidiary Woodland Academy Child Development Center, who will together be celebrated for their longstanding contributions to Bartram’s Garden and the surrounding Southwest Philadelphia community.
“It’s really a joy to honor Nancy and our partners at GPHA and Woodland Academy,” said Bartram’s Garden Executive Director Maitreyi Roy. “Together, their work represents some of the most extraordinary ways that we see neighbors and partners investing in community health, public green spaces, and young students. We’re looking forward to a beautiful evening celebrating all that they’ve achieved as well as their amazing plans for what’s next.”
Nancy A. Goldenberg is President & CEO of Laurel Hill Cemetery. She is responsible for ensuring that the organization’s two historic cemeteries, arboretum, and funeral home are premier cultural and educational destinations and leaders in the evolving death care industry. Before joining Laurel Hill, Nancy served for 20 years in executive positions at Philadelphia’s Center City District, leading the planning for many of the CCD’s most recognized park projects including Sister Cities Park, Collins Park, Dilworth Park, and the Rail Park. Currently the Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Public Horticulture Coalition, Nancy is most proud of being a founder of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School and an Honorary Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a lifetime achievement and among the highest honors that the organization confers.
“I’m truly honored to be part of Twilight in the Garden this year,” said Goldenberg. “There are so many people who do so much to lift up public horticulture in our community and so many people I learn from and look up to every single day, including Maitreyi and her team at Bartram’s Garden. And it’s so powerful to make clear the link between our green spaces and community health, so I am also excited to cheer on GPHA and Woodland Academy.”
Greater Philadelphia Action Health, Inc. (GPHA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to underserved populations in the Philadelphia region. A cornerstone of community health and education, GPHA provides essential medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmaceutical, and childcare services to more than 84,000 people annually. Their commitment extends beyond healthcare, nurturing the next generation through Woodland Academy, which prior to COVID-19, provided early care and learning opportunities to more than hundreds of students and connected families to community resources, including the medical services provided by GPHA. For over 30 years, Woodland Academy, just blocks away from Bartram’s Garden, has been deeply rooted in the local community, serving the Southwest area and its growing vicinity.
“Our partnership with Bartram’s Garden is central to our work with Southwest Philadelphia children and families as well as our vision for the future of education in this neighborhood,” said Sharon Neilson, Project Manager for the NESTT, the future home of Woodland Academy to be located adjacent to Bartram’s Garden. “We see every day the ways in which our neighbors’ health and well-being are impacted by their access to quality education and welcoming green spaces, especially in neighborhoods like Southwest Philadelphia that have suffered environmental injustice. We’re hoping this is the first of many celebrations as we move forward with the NESTT and ensure that more students and young people can use the Garden as their classroom!”
Twilight attendees can expect an elegant evening in the Garden’s historic grounds, including curated private tours, aerial dance theatrics by Tangle Movement Arts, music by DJ Femi, and an autumnal spread of catered refreshments and specialty cocktails. There will also be a silent auction, where attendees can bid for an array of unique items and experiences, ranging from art and collectibles to travel and entertainment. A portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible, and proceeds from ticket sales support Bartram’s Garden as a public park that attracts more than 125,000 visitors annually.
Sponsorships, tickets, and more information are available at www.bartramsgarden.org/twilight

Nancy A. Goldenberg