Maria Roca is honored by New Yorkers 4 Parks at the 2012 Daffodil Breakfast

FoSP's Founder and Chair, María Roca,

chosen as Brooklyn's Honoree of New Yorkers 4 Parks' 

2012 Daffodil Award. María accepted on behalf of the

thousands of volunteers whose hard work is evident

in Sunset Park, everyday.

 Daffodil Project founder Lynden Miller, Common Cents co-founder and

Exec. Dir. Teddy Gross, NY4P Chairman Ed Wallace,

 Carl Bevelhymer, Maria Roca, Evelyn Davila,

NY4P Exec. Dir. Holly Leicht, Matthew Washington, Ina Brennan, Megan Kimmins.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, FoSP Founder and Chair Maria Roca,

NY4P Executive Director Holly Leicht

NY4P Honors Daffodil Project Participants 

New Yorkers for Parks honored seven New Yorkers for their participation and leadership in the Daffodil Project, NY4P’s annual citywide volunteer beautification program, at our annual Daffodil Breakfast Thursday morning at Bryant Park Grill in Manhattan. 

Founded in 2001 to commemorate September 11, the Daffodil Project began as a living memorial to raise the spirits of New Yorkers and revitalize parks and communities, and has grown into a year-round partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation and volunteers in all five boroughs. More than 4.25 million daffodil bulbs have been planted since the Project began.  

"Today’s breakfast, like the project itself, is really all about our volunteers," Leicht said. "This spring, almost 5 million daffodils – planted over ten years by students, civic groups, church congregations, community gardeners, nursing home residents and thousands of other New Yorkers - bloomed in just about every neighborhood across the city.  Without our dedicated volunteers, there would be no Daffodil Project.  It is quite literally the sum of thousands of local community projects that add up to the largest volunteer effort in the city’s history."

The Project unites neighborhood residents, elected officials, civic groups and businesses as stewards of their local open spaces. Through bulb distributions and plantings with students in the fall, a photo contest and annual breakfast honoring community volunteers in the spring, and park clean-ups in the spring and summer, the Project touches the lives of New Yorkers year round.

"“Daffodils are a renowned symbol of hope, inspiration and renewal, and they represent the city’s rebirth in the decade since 9/11. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with New Yorkers for Parks and thousands of volunteers to add millions of daffodils to our city’s horticultural fabric," Benepe said.

Also in the crowd of 160 were Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz – who regaled the audience with William Wordworth's "Daffodils" – New York City Councilmembers Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. and Gale A. Brewer, and former NYC Parks & Recreation Commissioner Henry J. Stern. You can view photos from the event at the NY4P Facebook page.