The eighth annual Friends of the High Line benefit on Wednesday, which raised $2.4 million, celebrated some of the individual donors who, in tandem with government allocations, are helping to turn a beautiful dream about an abandoned segment of railroad into an actual, incredibly imaginative park, using what the High Line design team of Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro call “agri-tecture.”

Lisamaria and Philip Falcone gave money to build the stairs at 14th Street. The 10th Avenue Square, at 17th Street, is being built with donations from Hermine Riegerl Heller and David Heller and Sukey and Mike Novogratz. Donald Pels and Wendy Keys have funded the Gansevoort Woodland. A grant from the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation will build the water feature on the sundeck.

Perhaps there’s someone out there who wants to fund the planting of wisteria, or name a “peel-up” bench, made from rail-tie inspired planks. The director of development at Friends of the High Line, Matthew Shakespeare, is eager to talk, as the park’s first segment will open this winter.

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“Shabbat in the park” was initially just a clever idea thrown out at a board meeting of the Jewish National Fund’s group for young professionals, JNF Future, which formed last year under the leadership of Ben Jablonski.

A few months and many permits later, JNF Future held its first Shabbat in the Park last Friday, gathering more than 250 people at the top of Sheep Meadow for fellowship, remarks from Rep. Anthony Weiner, and updates on the fund’s projects in Israel, including efforts to populate the Negev Desert.

Mr. Jablonski earned the success of the event, with his ebullience and willingness to do anything (including pitching the tent). He had help from Matthew Herman, Jing Wang, Jennie Berger, and Zvi Lantsberg (whose date was his mom), to name just a few.

The fund emphasizes care for the environment. The iconic JNF boxes accepting donations to plant trees in Israel “have a much smaller carbon footprint than they used to,” the president of JNF New York, Jeffrey Levine, said. They’re now made of recycled cardboard instead of metal.

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The wisdom of gathering outdoors was again evident at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s “Passport to Summer” picnic last Thursday night.

The event, a fund-raiser for young professionals, supported the garden’s educational programs for children.

As he lifted his sunglasses from his face, the president of the garden, Scot Medbury, said, “This event has got a great purpose, and it’s the month of June, one of the most spectacular months here at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. So you tell me, what could go wrong?”

To ensure nothing did go wrong, the garden’s newly appointed vice president for facilities planning, construction, and management, Frank Montes, was on hand.

Marieme Thiam-Bokam, a resident of Inwood, liked the casual vibe.

“It’s friendly and nothing feels overwhelming.”

When the sun set, guests headed into the conservatory for dancing.

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A tree grows in the Bronx. Actually, a few trees, of the abstract variety, made by artist Moses Ros of Riverdale.

The Bronx Library Center has an exhibit of Mr. Ros’s trees through the weekend (pictured at left).

Mr. Ros also has planted more permanent roots: A tree sculpture, incorporating a bench around the trunk, is located at 161st Street and Eagle Avenue. He calls it the “Tree of Hope.”