The American Floral Endowment ( AFE ) has a farseeing history of honour manufacture star through memorial tribute . These testimonial allow friends and family to contribute to AFE to forever honor and recognize , in a permanent path , the success , achievements , and legacy of our fall champion and crime syndicate . In October of 2023 , the Katie Kennicott Memorial Tribute was establish , honoring Katie ’s life . Through calendar month of continued contributions and additional funds from Katie ’s loving married man , Harrison " Red " Kennicott , the stock has grown from a tribute store ( under $ 25,000 ) to $ 50,000 , which will establish a for good nonsensitive Named Fund within AFE to help patronize the future of the floral industry . “Katie was a longtime friend and loved by so many who not only knew her but were touch by her generosity and caring nature , " says AFE ’s Executive Director , Debi Chedester CAE , IOM , AAF . " The overwhelming response of contributions made in her pureness shows her impact throughout our industry and beyond . "
The new Kathleen " Katie " Kennicott Memorial Fund will constantly honor Katie ’s commitment , love , and commitment to the flowered residential district and her countless acquaintance . Many eff Katie Kennicott best as the gay , astute , and plight married woman of Red Kennicott of the Chicago - based wholesale distributor Kennicott Brothers Company . Katie play a direct role in the caller ’s success and upgrade the recognition of cleaning woman leadership within the industry . Over more than 60 years of active involvement in the flowered manufacture , she has record a unique endowment for making secure connector with customers , suppliers , and others — connections that have help to convert the aspect of the industry . She began her career with Kennicott Brothers as a customer relations instance . This was at a meter when , as Katie herself tie in in an interview conducted in the descent of 2018 , " There were no women in the wholesale flush business at all . Zero . " She was truly a pioneer for her sentence . A fast friend to all , she quickly lay down a rapport with Kennicott Brothers ' retail florist customers , mainly woman , visiting their locations and quickly becoming friend . She always followed up each sojourn with a personal note . She visited prospects as well as customers . Many , even if they did not become customers , became lifelong Friend . Katie used to differentiate the story of visiting one client who had n’t made any purchases from Kennicott Brothers for a while . The customer explained why she was angry : she could not get a 72 - cent commission , one that she regarded as erroneous , removed from her flyer . The charge had already cost Kennicott ’s hundreds of dollars ' Charles Frederick Worth of business . Katie not only promised to get the mission take away , she take 72 cents out of her purse and handed it to the customer . It remove that personal visit and a woman - to - woman talk to answer the billet . For over four 10 , Katie came along with Red to nearly every Wholesale Florists & Florist Suppliers Association ( WF&FSA ) and Society of American Florists ( SAF ) one-year formula , strengthening the companionship ’s connectedness to provider as well as to customers and always giving back to the diligence . Due in part to Katie ’s function and presence , WF&FSA began host a dialog box at its annual rule have women leaders , marking a newfangled era for fair sex in the manufacture . Together , Katie and Red serve set up and became founding members of AFE ’s Legacy Circle , an honorary group of industry members who made provisions for a planned giving to AFE to support the significant work of the Endowment . Katie kick the bucket away on October 13 , 2023 , at 86.On top of her oeuvre for Kennicott Brothers and other industry activity , Katie was also a devoted materfamilias . Katie was a married woman to Red for 64 class , a mom to five kids , a grandmother to 14 , and had 11 great - grandchildren and one dandy - groovy - grandchild . go forward in her stride within the industry , her boy , Stephen , and granddaughter , Paige , are employed at Kennicott Kuts , the connection of flower farm specializing in paeony that commence in Illinois in 1836 and today stretches from Chile to Alaska . Katie ’s life-time rival many other lives . Through this raw stock , her legacy will persist in affect the industry she loved so much . “I’m extremely grateful to the many individuals who put up to AFE to honour Katie , " adds Red . " She continues to bring industry champion and family together to bear the flowered community she lie with through this new Fund . "
For more informationAmerican Floral EndowmentTel . : +1 ( 703 ) 838-5211www.endowment.org
