Representatives from HSBC Bank and the Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) recently celebrated the end of the fall session for the HSBC Children’s Garden at the culture hub, and the bank showed its renewed support of the program with a check for $80,000.
On Saturday, October 3, while youngsters participated in the HSBC Children’s Garden – a program for children ages 5-12 that teaches kids about plants, gardens and recycling as well as nutrition and identification of animals – HSBC presented the QBG officials with the check.
“HSBC is pleased to support the outstanding work of Queens Botanical Garden because it encompasses two causes that are vitally important to HSBC – education and the environment,” said Heather Nesle, vice president, community and philanthropic services, for HSBC. “We are very proud of the HSBC Children’s Garden and the valuable programs that are offered to children from the local community.”
HSBC has been a longtime supporter of the Children’s Garden, and since 2002 it has donated nearly $500,000 to the Queens Botanical Garden, according Tim Heimerle, director of development and marketing for the garden.
“This program supports the environment and educates children,” Heimerle said. “It is perfect for both of us.”
In addition to the check ceremony, the HSBC BankCab, the distinct red-and-white checker cab that currently provides free rides to HSBC customers who can present a current HSBC ATM card, delivered food from the HSBC Children’s Garden and the Queens Botanical Garden farmer’s market to the Macedonia AME Church – a food pantry located in 37-22 Union Street in Flushing.
“Primarily once a year a group of volunteers from the bank have clean up days at the Queens Botanical Garden,” Heimerle said. “They come to the Garden to do general work.”
The Queens Botanical Garden, located at 43-50 Main Street in Flushing is a living museum that is owned by the City of New York, presents collections, education and research initiatives and programs that demonstrate environmental stewardship.
