About

“After being in the industry for almost 50 years and owning my own company for the last 40, I have learned many things. One is that life is a song.

Sometimes you listen to the melody and sometimes the words. The Garden Party event is the melody.  It is pleasant, if not pleasing.  It is one of the few charities that our industry, Hospitality, embraces a cause that always has a happy ending.  An event, where people give as much as they would like and get to enjoy a day without being pestered to spend more or speeches why they should. In the end, they leave smiling and return every year.  They come to enjoy the good wine, the good food, the pleasant surroundings and for the charitable aspect. Giving without knowing they gave.  This is the melody.

The words to this song are more important – self sufficiency.  We are giving the children and later young adults the opportunity to learn skills that WILL allow them to be self sufficient and prosper – vocational training. The charity does not discriminate in allowing the student to choose, because all of these trades will allow them to truly succeed in life. Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical are a few of the skills we promote – AND, yes, the Culinary Arts.  These are the words that need to be listened to.”

Sydney L. Ross

The mission of The Garden Party Foundation (TGPF) is to provide professional trade scholarships to underprivileged young adults. TGPF believes that the purpose of education is to teach students skills allowing them the opportunity to create their own self-sustainable life, which goes hand in hand with TGPF’s intention…to help one student at a time reach their dreams.

The goal of The Garden Party event is to create a pleasant Sunday afternoon. Pleasing to the eye, the palate and for its charitable aspect – pleasing to the soul.

TGPF was founded by Sydney L. Ross and his wife, Elizabeth. The Garden Party event was initiated, and is maintained, by the J. Lewis Cooper Family and Elizabeth and Sydney L. Ross Foundation. Each year TGPF has hosted an event, The Garden Party, comprised of fine wine, delicious food and classic cars with all proceeds benefiting charity. Now, in our 12th year, nearly 700 guests attend, 30 restaurants display their signature dishes and 100 different wines are served.Guests are encouraged to enjoy a pleasant afternoon and of course, display their classic car.