Michael Fenter has been a Member of the Friends of the Public Garden since 2010. He learned about the Friends through Board member Margaret Pokorny when they were working on community projects together. The Mall is special to Michael and he considers it to be his "front yard". He has lived in many cities and believes there is nothing quite like the parks in Boston. He enjoys seeing the seasons change in them and says, "the parks are an ever-changing living canvas of nature right in the middle of modern living."
The parks mean so much to Michael that he has helped care for them by volunteering in a variety of ways for Mall projects, including fundraising efforts for a sponsored tree in memory of people who died from AIDS and ongoing litter and graffiti clean up. He also participates in his employers' match program, ensuring that his contributions and volunteer hours go even further with a match from Microsoft. He explains the Friends and sometimes hands out informational materials, as he responds to people's questions while volunteering or walking his dogs along the Mall
"One way to enhance and restore these parks is to educate the next generation of stewards," says Michael. He started an annual "Keeping It Clean" day for his nephews' school where the children come and clean litter on the Mall from Arlington Street to the Kenmore block. They are rewarded with pizza and bowling for their volunteer hours! He believes these parks are a legacy for past and future citizens to treasure. "The main reason to join the Friends is because it is our responsibility to preserve these living treasures for the next generation," he added.