It was as if a wish had been granted. No less than a month ago, amid news of substantial budget cuts, Teresa McLaughlin, director of Reiman Gardens, said she wanted to come to work one day and magically find enough money to keep Reiman Gardens running throughout the winter.

And to her immense delight, Roy and Bobbi Reiman, namesakes of Iowa State’s horticulture gardens, contributed a $64,300 holiday gift that will curb many of the cuts made in recent months to keep the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing filled.

“It is truly like Christmas morning,” said McLaughlin of the staff and community reaction to the contribution. “I only wish [the Reimans] could have been here [to see the response].”

The large contribution made by the Reimans will keep the butterfly wing and atrium open through December, as well as pay wages of many winter employees for the coming two months.

The Reimans decided to make the contribution when they visited Iowa State during Homecoming week and heard about the garden’s financial condition.

“We’re hoping this ‘stay-open’ holiday gift will bring this situation to the attention of others,” said Roy Reiman in a press release, who could not be reached for comment. “Hopefully it will spur CoHorts, local businesses and people in economic development to join us in supporting what has become one of the most unique and beautiful asset Iowa owns.”

The lack of local support has been one of the contributing problems in regards to the financial situation of Reiman Gardens.

Bev Grabau, an associate at the front desk who has worked at Reiman Gardens for roughly 12 years, said families and individuals who travel from out of state or from other communities are sometimes surprised by what Reiman Gardens have to offer.

“I encourage continued support from the university and the Ames community,” Grabau said.

Grabau is a faculty member who would not have been coming back to work this winter as a result of the budget cuts.

“But with the holiday gift and donation, my friends and I who work at the front desk and do greeting will work through December,” Grabau said. “This is a holiday blessing for us; it really is.”

Even with the contribution, Reiman Gardens administrators still have their hands full with raising money to balance the budget. Of the most difficult categories to raise money within its budget has been grants and sponsors, which amounts to $60,000. This means that in order to balance its budget, Reiman Gardens must raise $60,000 by the end of the fiscal year through applying to various grants and obtaining sponsors for events in the gardens. So far, Reiman Gardens has applied for 10 grants and requested 30 sponsorships, yet have heard back from only one grant, which was not approved, and have received no sponsorships.

The Reimans’ gift will not go toward this year’s revenue budget, as it is meant to supplement part of the cuts made as a result of the recent $200,000 budget cut. The gift will curb some of the budget cut’s losses, such as full-time and part-time jobs and the winter closure of the butterfly wing.

“With his contribution, he [Reiman] wants other people to step in and contribute,” McLaughlin said. “It’s important that the local community supports us. Just coming [to Reiman Gardens] is what we want to see.”

Donna Wiegand, account clerk for Reiman Gardens, is a faculty member whose hours were to be cut from full time to part time from November through March as a result of the budget cuts but will now remain full time through December.

McLaughlin said people she didn’t even know called and wrote to say that the contribution is “just wonderful.”

“There is such enthusiasm and exuberance, as if everybody got the present they hoped for,” McLaughlin said. “To see this kind of thankfulness is gratifying.”