If you bought a ticket for this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour, then that big ceremonial check is in part from you! Tuesday night at the Duwamish Longhouse, the WSGT celebrated this year’s eight beneficiaries – by presenting them with a grand total of $24,705, following what not only was a well-attended tour but was its most successful yet at drawing revenue from sponsors (including WSB again this year). Individual photos ahead, along with details on how the $ will be spent!

The photos below feature some of the representatives who attended from the beneficiary organizations, along with excerpts from a printout detailing how they plan to use the grants:

ARTSWEST – represented by managing director Line Sandsmark. “WSGT funding will be used to support the Theater Education Program …”

BARTON STREET P-PATCH – represented by Ed Kein and Kate Farley. “Funding from the WSGT will be used to build an open steel hog wire fence that is durable, functional, long-lasting, and not easy to tag with graffiti.”

BLOEDEL RESERVE – represented by executive director Ed Moydell: “Funding from the WSGT will be used to remove and replace dead or dying trees at the west entry to the Japanese Garden.”

COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE – represented by Narcissa Nelson and Helen Shampain: “Funding from the WSGT will be used to support the educational workshp series from the fall of 2012 through the end of 2013.”

HIGHLINE-SEATAC BOTANICAL GARDEN – represented by Gary Fanthorpe: The money “will be used to replace an existing unsecure potting shed with a more secure structure for tool and equipment storage which can also double as a space where staff and volunteers can complete their paperwork during inclement weather.”

KUBOTA GARDEN – represented by Jean Hobart: Their share “will be used to design and install a working drinking fountain for people and pets, designed by Gerard Tsutakawa.”

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE-YELS (Youth Empowered for Leadership Strength) wasn’t able to have someone at the ceremony. They plan to use their share for the weekly YUM program, “a successful healthy cooking, eating, and gardening series …”

SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN – represented by Judy Koenig: “WSGT funding will be used to create a beautiful Welcome Garden along the now-barren entry path …”

And with one last look at the ceremonial check, here’s incoming 2013 West Seattle Garden Tour president Nancy Evans:

P.S. Now that the grand finale of this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour is past, the kickoff meeting for 2013 is coming up fast – one week from today, Wednesday, September 19th. Many committees have openings, tour volunteers tell us, so if you’d like to check out the possibility of getting involved, e-mail info@westseattlegardentour.com for details on the kickoff meeting.