Petal It Forward Event a Hit Across the Country
November 17, 2018 
Dümmen Orange played a big role in last month’s Petal it Forward campaign, participating in four events across the country on Oct. 24.
In Columbus, OH, where the company’s North American operations are based, the group, including members from Dümmen Orange, Kroger, and the Gems Group (a marketer and distributor), handed out 600 bouquets to surprised recipients over the lunch hour. With the directive to keep one bouquet for themselves and give the other away, recipients were able to experience the joy of both receiving and giving flowers for no particular reason.
Petal It Forward, organized by the Society of American Florists (SAF), featured more than 450 events in total. Additional Dümmen Orange campaigns took place in Wayne, NJ, with horticultural distributor McHutchison Horticulture; in Naperville, IL, and with horticultural distributor Vaughan’s Horticulture; and in Carpinteria, CA, home of Dümmen Orange’s Cut Flower Product Manager, Christa Boerlage.
“We spread a lot of happiness,” Boerlage says. “And we were able to do so because of generous flower donations from our Petal It Forward partners: B-Fresh Floral, Jardines de Los Andes, Farmers’ West Flowers and Bouquets, Flores Prisma, Flores Silvestres, Gallup & Stribling Orchids, La Gaitana Farms, Ocean Breeze Farms, The Gems Group, and Westland Floral Company.”
Other partners for the events included Kroger Columbus Division, Hillcrest Garden, and Kennicott Brothers.
“The events were successful due to great teamwork, and I would like to thank everyone for their donations and participation,” Boerlage says.
“I love the feeling of community this event produces,” says Whitney Lenglet, Business Developer at The Gems Group. “It’s wonderful to see the whole industry, from breeders to growers, suppliers, and retailers, all coming together and acting towards a common goal: to place flowers in someone’s hands and spread joy throughout their community. It’s truly special to witness how large of an impact a small gesture of kindness can have on someone’s day.”
Mike Pezzillo, Vice President of Operations at McHutchison, shared similar sentiments to Boerlage and Lenglet.
“This was our first time participating in Petal It Forward and it definitely won’t be the last,” Pezzillo says. “We saw the first hand effects of unexpected kindness, often emotional reactions characterized by surprise, hugs, and tears. The power of flowers is real and people from all walks of life appreciate kindness.”
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