Mar 8, 2017

AFE Receives $100,000 Contribution

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) received a $100,000 contribution from Egon and Laina Molbak to support AFE’s floriculture programs.

The contribution will establish a new named fund honoring the Molbaks, and will serve as a tribute of their dedication and support of the industry.

The longtime industry veterans, now retired, founded Molbak’s Garden + Home outside of Seattle, Washington, in 1956 after moving to the U.S. from Denmark. They grew the business from five glass greenhouses with chrysanthemums and carnations to one of the Northwest’s premier garden and home destinations.

Molbak’s Garden + Home is now owned by the couple’s son Jens and attracts more than one million visitors each year. It is known for its cafe and wide selection of plants and gifts, and is also a host employer for AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program.

Proud supporters of the endowment, the Molbaks are involved in their community and the industry, and have received many local, national and international awards. Egon was also inducted into the Society of American Florist’s Floriculture Hall of Fame in 1990.

The Egon and Laina Molbak Fund joins the 21 other AFE named funds that have been created since 2011.

Read more about Egon and Laina’s journey at www.endowment.org/afe-named-funds.