Welcome to Robert’s Garden of Hope

Today, we’re honored to open the doors to Robert’s Garden of Hope — a nonprofit born from the life and love of Robert McKinnon. Robert was a husband, a father, and for nearly four decades a florist who brought beauty to the streets of New York City. Born in Belize, he made Hell’s Kitchen his home and his canvas. When a child wandered into his shop, he’d hand them a single rose, just to watch their face light up. In 2022, we lost Robert to duodenal cancer, and discovered a hard truth: rare cancers receive a fraction of the research they need — though about 1 in 4 cancer diagnoses is a rare cancer. We founded Robert’s Garden of Hope to bring them into the light: funding research, raising awareness, and cultivating community for the families who face them. This is just the beginning, and we’d love for you to grow it with us. — Paula & Michael McKinnon