Illuminated Holiday Garden Honors Educators

This December, The Green at The Village Chapel will once again sparkle with holiday cheer as Partners for Children and Families presents its 2025 Illuminated Holiday Garden, a glowing tribute to the educators who brighten lives across Moore County. Now celebrating more than three decades of service, the nonprofit continues its mission of helping children and families thrive.

“Educators truly light the path for our community,” says Julia Latham, development director for Partners for Children and Families. “The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to honor a teacher who has made a lasting difference.”

Community members are invited to dedicate a flower in the garden to a special educator with a suggested minimum donation of $20 that will support the work of Partners for Children and Families. Honorees may include anyone who inspires learning from preschool and classroom teachers to child care providers, coaches, mentors, music instructors, professors and faith-based educators. Each will receive a personal message of appreciation and be listed in the Holiday Honor Roll of Educators, published on Christmas week in The Pilot.

The Illuminated Holiday Garden is free to visit Dec. 1-Jan. 3, at The Green at The Village Chapel, 10 Azalea Road, in Pinehurst. For honorees living outside Moore County, Partners will also share the honor roll and photos of the garden on social media.

This year’s holiday garden is sponsored by The Village Chapel, First Capital Bank’s Pinehurst Branch, the Golf Capital Chorus, the Emmanuel Episcopal Thrift Shop (celebrating the educators at the Episcopal Day School) and Lin Hutaff’s Pinehurst Realty Group (celebrating the educators at Pinehurst Elementary School and West Pine Elementary School).

Partners for Children and Families’ staff will be joined by members of the Pinehurst High School Interact Club to build the garden. “We are so grateful for their energy and enthusiasm,” says Latham. “There’s something lovely about seeing students dedicating their time to honor their teachers and create something beautiful for their community.”

To dedicate a flower to an educator in your life or the life of your child, visit www.pfcfmc.org/illuminate. If your organization would like to sponsor the recognition of an entire school, call Latham at (910) 949-4045.