A Good time for a Good Cause: Food, Fun, and Flora at Party with the Plants
Technically speaking, it was already autumn. But if you were among the hundreds of people who visited the Danforth Center on September 26, you wouldn’t have known it. Because that evening, the atmosphere at the Center was one of a summer celebration—with guests arriving in tropical attire and ready to give back by getting down at Party with the Plants 2025.
Year after year, this unique fundraiser proves to be one of the Center’s most popular and meaningful events: offering attendees a blend of fun, educational, and delicious experiences to help keep the Center’s mission going. With a theme of “Plants in Paradise,” this particular party was the most successful one yet: drawing record-level attendance, a record amount of revenue (more than $170,000 for plant science research and local STEM education), and providing all who visited with a night unlike any other.
Turning Up the Heat
Chef Mike Johnson of Sugarfire Smoke House entertains guests with a BBQ demonstration.
The night got off to a sizzling start. Following remarks from the event’s emcee, Blake Whiteside, guests were treated to a live cooking demonstration from celebrity chef Mike Johnson—owner of Sugarfire Smoke House. The local barbeque spot also served up samples of a special new dish inspired by the Danforth Center. Dubbed “The Botanical Belly,” this new creation incorporates two crops, sorghum and cassava, that researchers at the Center are working with to help fight food insecurity and preserve our planet. “It was awesome, I cannot wait to have it again,” said local food influencer, Stephen Deaderick (aka stepheneatsstl).
If you’d like to try the dish for yourself, it will be available at Sugarfire’s Olivette location each Friday starting October 3, with proceeds benefiting the Danforth Center.
The Fun in Fundraising
But there was more than just great refreshments at Party with the Plants. In fact, there were things to enjoy throughout the building. A typical experience might look something like this. After entering the lobby, you hear the live Latin-inspired music performed by Aaron Burlbaw of Acoustik Element. After choosing which raffle basket to spend your tickets on, you might run into magician Keith Jozsef, who entertained party patrons with close-up card tricks. And after picking up a new prize at the plant/wine pull, you stop by some of the night’s main attractions: the scientific stations. Made possible by Principal Investigator Dr. Katie Murphy and Senior Research Associate Kerrigan Gilbert, these hands-on booths gave attendees a glimpse at some of the research being done at the Center and helped more people understand how plants can help save the planet. As Young Friends chair, Klaire Whitesite said, “I hope first-time visitors get a feel for how important the work here is. Because the scientists at the Danforth Center really are changing the world.”
The overjoyed winner of the Lakefront Luxe Getaway raffle prize.
About the Event
Since its inception in 2017, Party with the Plants has been the signature event of the Danforth Center’s Young Friends—a community of professionals, aged 40 and younger, who champion the Center’s mission. Since 2022, the event has also served as the culmination of the Grow Challenge Week of Giving, an online, peer-to-peer fundraiser in support of the Center’s Impact Fund. Co-chairs of this year’s event were Klaire Whiteside, chair, and Richard Clements, vice-chair.
I hope first-time visitors get a feel for how important the work here is. Because the scientists at the Danforth Center really are changing the world.
Klaire Whiteside, chair, Danforth Center Young Friends
After Party
Although this year’s Grow Challenge + Party with the Plants has ended, you still can play a part in the Center’s work to feed the world, heal the planet, and enhance the region by making a gift today.
Thank You!
The Danforth Center and Party with the Plants organizers are grateful to the following volunteers and vendors:
Party Co-Chairs: Klaire Whiteside, chair; Richard Clements, vice chair
Emcee: Blake Whiteside
Scientist Organizers: Kerri Gilbert and Katie Murphy
Scientists: Balaji Balamurugan, Rachel Combs-Giroir, Pratibha Demiwal, Keith Duncan, Jackson Gehan, Sabita Gyawali, Takashi Hamaji, Hui Jiang, Raviraj Kalunke, Ray Kannenberg, Eileen Kosola, Ellen Krall, Clara Lebow, Maneesh Lingwan, Dianyi Liu, Collin Luebbert, Jennifer McDonnell, Karina Medina, Boominathan Mohanasundaram, Aimee Moore, Stew Morley, Srijana Mukhia, Narayanan Narayanan, Sona Pandey, Seth Polydore, Vidhya Raman, Tess Rogers, Ashley Snouffer, Danielle Stretch, James Umen, Vincent Vanyo, Jiahong Zhou
Festive fun: music Aaron Burlbaw of Acoustik Element; master illusionist Keith Jozsef
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