Please join us for the 5th annual Autumn Dinner at the Arnold Arboretum
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Experience the magic and grandeur of the Arboretum’s late season landscape while supporting environmental access, conservation, and research.
Enjoy meandering and dinner under a tent in the Explorers Garden to celebrate Arboretum trees as ambassadors that link people and plants across global collections.
Join the Autumn Dinner Event Committee and Honorary Host Committee in sponsoring Magical Meanderings and supporting the urban oasis of the Arnold Arboretum. To sponsor, please fill out this registration form or contact Tanya M. Holton, Director of Institutional Advancement at the Arnold Arboretum, at 617.384.5043 or tholton@fas.harvard.edu.
Autumn Dinner Co-Chairs
Arisa Boit, co-chair
Joan Kelly, co-chair
Heather Bello Thornhill, co-chair
Autumn Dinner Event Committee
Carrie Minot Bell & George deB. Bell, Jr.
Isabelle & Scott Black
Arisa & David Boit
Silvina & Nicolas Choumenkovitch
RoAnn Costin
Sophia & Edward Garmey
Joan & Stephen Kelly
Nushin Kormi & Daniel Karlen
Georgia & Rich Lee
Cathy & Rich Thompson
Heather Bello Thornhill & Matthew Thornhill
Gwill York & Paul Maeder
Honorary Host Committee
Patricia & William Burke
Abby & Peter Coffin
Barbara & Amos Hostetter
Jill Medvedow & Richard Kazis
Kathryn Nifornos & Matt O’Malley
Arthur I Segel
Wendy Shattuck & Sam Plimpton
Katherine Chapman Stemberg & William Schnoor
Maryann Thompson
Space is limited. Tickets and sponsorships are available at the following levels:
Weld Hill Sponsor: $25,000 – Table of 10
Peters Hill Sponsor: $15,000 – Table of 6
Bussey Hill Sponsor: $10,000 – Table of 4
Explorers Sponsor: $5,000 – Tickets for 2
Franklinia Sponsor: $2,500 – Ticket for 1
Proceeds provide unrestricted support to the nation’s first public “museum of trees” and help us provide greater service to the City of Boston and the world. Please note that $350 per guest is considered goods and services per IRS regulations.
Your Sponsorship Benefits Include:
-     Tickets to the Autumn Dinner (quantity varies per level)
-     Listing on event materials at your sponsorship level
-     A special Arboretum plant propagated for your garden
-     Inclusion in the Annual Report at your sponsorship level
- A wood-turned item from an Arboretum tree
Unable to sponsor this event, but still want to support the mission of the Arnold Arboretum?
Make a tax deductible contribution of any amount here: DONATE
Options to Remit Payment:
When you RSVP here, you will have the option to pay now by credit card or to remit payment later.
If you choose to pay later, you will need to finalize your sponsorship by remitting a check at your earliest convenience.
Please make checks payable to: The Arnold Arboretum
Write in the memo line: Autumn Dinner
Mail to: Tanya M. Holton, The Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130
While the Arnold Arboretum is solely responsible for its own budget and philanthropic support, it is also an affiliate of Harvard University, Tax ID #04-2103580.
A note about donor advised funds:
Gifts made through donor advised funds and private foundations may receive sponsorship recognition. However, please be aware that IRS regulations prohibit the use of donor advised funds and some private foundations to pay for event tickets and sponsorship fees associated with event admission or other goods and services. Please contact your fund sponsor or legal/tax adviser for guidance before submitting your payment.
For more information about the Arnold Arboretum Autumn Dinner, Director’s Circle, and Sesquicentennial Campaign, please contact Tanya M. Holton, Director of Institutional Advancement at the Arnold Arboretum, at 617.384.5043 or tholton@fas.harvard.edu.