Planting Seeds of Hope to Raise Change

While a rainy morning and threats of more rain in the afternoon prompted the Backyard Flower Festival to choose its indoor location at Doylestown’s Main Street Marketplace, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for those who dropped by to check it out on Sunday.

With raffles, a plant swap, master gardener table, henna tattoos, kids’ activities and more, the event was a fundraiser for The Robert James Leonard Foundation. At the end of the afternoon, the group had raised $1,545.

Jo Leonard, executive director of the Doylestown-based foundation named in honor of her father, said she wanted the organization to focus on two things her father held important – young adults and education.

As a result, the foundation strives to help those teenagers transitioning out of foster care to find resources to continue their education.

The group provides financial fellowships to those in need and also ask for non-financial donations, or “Community Hugs,” in more tangible forms to aid students, such as academic tutoring, storage units for homeless foster care youth in college, gift cards to Target or Bed, Bath & Beyond for college care packages or gift certificates for public transit.

Information: (646) 246-8199 or www.rjleonardfoundation.org.