For the first time since its inception 100 years ago, The Rittenhouse Flower Market will include an LGBT organization as one of its 2014 beneficiaries.
The Rittenhouse Flower Market, founded in 1914, raises money for children’s and youth organizations across the city and this year will support The Attic Youth Center, along with the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund, Pathways PA and Urban Blazers Foundation.
The Rittenhouse Flower Market, the longest continuously running event in Rittenhouse Square, will take place all day May 7 and 8. Visitors can peruse the abundance of flowering plants and herbs and take part in an array of activities and events.
The organization will also host its annual Garden Party from 2-5 p.m. April 27 at The Lenfest Building of the Curtis Institute, 1616 Locust St.
The four beneficiaries are selected through an extensive application process that starts the year before the event.
Market co-president Barbara Pomerantz said the organization was motivated to find a diverse set of agencies this year.
“As the years have gone on, we have looked for more and more diverse missions as needs tend to rise,” she said. “Last year one of our members forwarded me the website of The Attic Youth Center and said, ‘Why don’t you consider sending them an application?’ I think many of us were pleased that the only LGBT youth organization would be interested in working with us so that we could increase awareness of them.”
The Attic Youth Center director of development Alyssa Mutryn said money raised with go towards The Attic’s mental-health initiatives.
Members of The Attic Youth Center will be on hand at the event, selling tote bags and T-shirts designed by the Attic Graffix group.
“We decided to use them as a vendor this year as well and they are making tote bags with our logo on it so we can sell it at the market,” Pomerantz said. “When we saw they had a print shop, I suggested we use them as a vendor.”
Mutryn said The Attic is honored to be included in this year’s Market, especially given the group’s proximity to Rittenhouse Square.
“They’ve been around for 100 years and it is awesome because we work close by to them,” she said. “They have brought people from their committee into The Attic and they have gotten a picture about what services are involved at The Attic. It is great that they are bringing awareness about LGBT youth.”
For more information on The Rittenhouse Flower Market, visit http://rittenhousesquareflowermarket.com.