Friends With Flowers

Friends with Flowers was founded in June, 2004 by Greensboro, North Carolina floral and event designer Randy McManus. Randy's mission is to provide fresh flowers to terminally ill patients with the hopes of lifting their spirits and brightening their final days.

With over twenty-eight years experience, Randy has seen the power and the joy that flowers bring to the people who receive them. With this in mind and with the realization that he could reuse the flowers from many of his clients' events and celebrations, Randy's realized his dream to make a difference in the lives of others.

Randy created Friends with Flowers with the belief that delivering a small vase of beautiful fresh flowers to the Hospice patients' bedsides will show these patients, many of whom have no family nearby, that they are loved and thought of as they leave this world. Since every floral arrangement is created out of love and compassion, Friends with Flowers embodies the Hospice philosophy and vision that people should die with dignity.

The idea was a success from the start. Greensboro Hospice enthusiastically accepted Randy's offer, and Friends with Flowers was officially on its way. Next, Randy created a formal 5013c non-profit complete with a logo, board of directors, fundraising initiatives, donation solicitations for supplies and professional services and finally volunteer signups to make and deliver the flowers.

If you are interested in starting a similar program in your area, please review the details found in the How to Start section.