Moonlight & Roses
Friday, June 4, 2027
Save the date for our 2027 gala honoring Doug Tallamy and Friends of the Wissahickon!
Moonlight & Roses has been a landmark event in the Philadelphia region for more than four decades. Today, the event provides a beautiful forum in which to recognize excellence and leadership in environmental stewardship. More than 500 guests attend the gala, with proceeds directly supporting the Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ important role as a premier destination for environmental outreach, education, and research.
VIP tickets for Moonlight & Roses will go on sale in January. If you would like to receive an early access invitation to purchase VIP tickets and ensure your spot at the gala, please contact Kristen Casalenuovo at kcasal@upenn.edu.
2027 Individual Honoree
Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy is an entomologist, conservationist, and the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware. His research examines how native and introduced plants differ in their ability to support insect herbivores and the animals that depend on them. Doug is also a co-founder of Homegrown National Park, a nonprofit organization dedicated to habitat restoration and biodiversity through the planting of native species and the removal of invasive plants. He has authored and co-authored several influential books, including Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope, inspiring millions of people to view their own landscapes as part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis.
2026 Institutional Honoree
Friends of the Wissahickon
Founded in 1924, Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) stewards Wissahickon Valley Park, ensuring its 2,040 acres remain accessible, sustainable, and beautiful for more than two million annual visitors. In partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and a network of civic and conservation organizations, FOW restores streams, improves trails and infrastructure, engages visitors, and creates new ways for people to experience and care for the Wissahickon.
2026 Gala Host Committee
Christine Bamberger
Amy Banse
Gabrielle Baugh
Ruth Chang
Amanda Cobb
Amy Coleman
Allison DeCaro
Alexandra Edsall*
Maria Jesus Frank
Melissa Greiner
Ellen Hass
Natalie Hirshorn
Stacy Kennedy
Katy Palmer
Evan Pruitt
Sarah Salmon
Cinda Waldbuesser
Thomasina White
Christine Wilmerding
Wendy Wurtzburger
*Chair of the Morris Board of Advisors
Moonlight & Roses is the Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ annual fundraising gala that raises money for the Morris’s annual operations. Funds raised through this year’s event will support all aspects of Morris Arboretum & Gardens and will ensure continued excellence in direct support of our mission.