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Johnson Family Donates $1M to Namesake Wildflower Center

Executive Director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Susan K. Rieff, Ian Turpin, Luci Baines Johnson, and UT President Bill Powers pose at the announcement of the donation.
Photo by Filipa Rodrigues for KUT News
Executive Director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Susan K. Rieff, Ian Turpin, Luci Baines Johnson, and UT President Bill Powers pose at the announcement of the donation.

Luci Baines Johnson and her husband have donated $1 million to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in southwest Austin. The donation will be used to help build a garden designed for children.

The daughter of the former president says it will feature a maze, an elevated walkway, and giant bird nests that kids will be able to climb into.“Mother’s dream was that the Wildflower Center would inspire future generations to care for and take care of the environment. By providing this gift, Ian and I have the chance of a lifetime to help mother’s dream come true, just as she did so many of ours.”

Groundbreaking for the new garden is scheduled for next year as part of the centennial celebration of Lady Bird Johnson’s birth.

Laura first joined the KUT team in April 2012. She now works for the statewide program Texas Standard as a reporter and producer. Laura came to KUT from the world of television news. She has worn many different hats as an anchor, reporter and producer at TV stations in Austin, Amarillo and Toledo, OH. Laura is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, a triathlete and enjoys travel, film and a good beer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and pets.
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