Rooted in Nature, Wired for Change
Planting Promise 2026
What is Planting Promise?
Planting Promise is The Giving Grove’s annual celebration of urban orchards and the people who sustain them. It is both a reflection on impact and an invitation to grow something bigger. Each year, supporters gather to invest in a future where fresh food is more accessible, neighborhoods are more connected, and green spaces are woven into the fabric of community life.
This year’s Planting Promise welcomed 265 attendees, our largest gathering to date. Orchard stewards, volunteers, business partners, new friends, and longtime supporters all came together with a shared belief that growing food can grow community. The luncheon began not with a program, but with an experience. Guests walked through an indoor demonstration orchard, designed and brought to life by [insert high school] students in partnership with Kansas City Community Gardens. It set the tone immediately. This is what it looks like when knowledge, care, and community take root.
A New Lens on Nature
The event’s keynote speaker, Dr. Nadina Galle, delivered a presentation that sparked both curiosity and possibility.
Her talk explored how technology is being used to preserve natural systems, deepen our connection to the environment, and expand our understanding of the ecosystems around us. Through real-world examples, she illustrated a future where data and nature work together, helping communities care for the spaces they depend on.
“[Dr. Nadina] was able to humanize (make relatable) a technical subject that has very direct applications to the
Giving Grove.”
As a gift to attendees, Nadina created a custom Bioblitz guide designed specifically for use in neighborhood orchards. She encouraged guests to participate in the City Nature Challenge using the iNaturalist app, inviting everyone to observe, document, and contribute to a broader understanding of local biodiversity.
Designed with Intention
Every detail of the luncheon told a story.
At each table, guests found living centerpieces made from herbs and companion plants that support orchard health. Thoughtfully arranged in donated OXO food storage containers, these displays were both practical and beautiful. By the end of the event, every centerpiece had been adopted for use in home gardens.
The meal offered a simple, nourishing menu. A fresh salad, warm potato soup, and a fluted chocolate cup for dessert. Even the end of the meal reflected the values of the day, with all food waste collected by our partners at KC Can Compost to be returned to the soil.
Guests also left with a take-home gift that bridged sustainability and everyday utility. Bamboo power banks, generously donated by Perfect Promotions, served as a reminder that innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Growing Momentum
A defining moment of the event came with an announcement from the Jack and Glenna Wyle Foundation and the McDonnell Foundation.
They introduced a matching gift campaign of up to $140,000, doubling the impact of donations made in support of The Giving Grove’s mission. By the end of the week, just $23,000 remained to meet the full match.
There is still time to be part of this effort. Donations made before April 30 remain eligible for the match, offering a powerful opportunity to expand the reach of this work. (Click here to donate.)
The funds raised will allow The Giving Grove to deepen its impact in existing communities while expanding into new ones. It means more orchards, more fresh food, and more spaces where people can gather, learn, and grow together.
More than an Event
What made Planting Promise memorable was not just the setting or the program. It was the collective energy in the room.
It was orchard stewards sharing lessons learned. Volunteers finding new ways to get involved. Partners seeing their support come to life in tangible ways. It was a community recognizing that small, local actions can create lasting change.
Planting Promise is a reminder that when we plant trees, we are also planting connection, resilience, and possibility.
See Planting Promise in Action
From the indoor orchard installation to the conversations around each table, these moments capture a community in motion.
Be Part of What’s Growing
If you joined us, thank you for helping make this luncheon so meaningful. If you are new to The Giving Grove, there are many ways to get involved. You can support the matching campaign before April 30, explore how to bring an orchard to your community, or simply stay connected as this work continues to grow.
Together, we are cultivating something lasting.