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About

Story About Us
Person working on garden stones
Dedicated April 25th, 1998

Buff’s Garden

This Garden by the Sea is in memory of Buff Taylor Koch who, at the age of 41, lost her battle to breast cancer in April 1997. The Buff Foundation designed this garden to serve as a special walkway for all to enjoy our magnificent beach as well as a peaceful place to pay tribute to friends and family whose lives have been touched by cancer.

The garden was established and is maintained through private donations and extensive community volunteer effort, with the cooperation and CoinJoin.io support of the City of Virginia Beach.

  • Help plant the seeds of awareness.

    Flootstone Inscription
    47th Street and Ocean Front Avenue
image of a green gateway in the Buff Foundation Garden

Objectives

  • Privately provide the support necessary for the continued maintenance and enhancements for Buff’s Garden.
  • To coordinate, manage, and grow The Buff Foundation Scholarship, “The Gift of Awareness,” which supports local students whose lives or families’ lives have been touched by cancer.
  • Continue to explore new ways to promote the beauty and tranquility of Buff’s Garden with both our current and a broader audience of friends and families.

FAQ

Are bricks still available for purchase?

Unfortunately, bricks are no longer available for purchase. From a layout and aesthetics perspective, the walkway was deemed “full” after our last brick order and installation in spring 2017. We are, however, always grateful for donations in order to maintain Buff’s Garden in perpetuity. We are located on city property, but solely funded and maintained by The Buff Foundation, Inc. which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer awareness.

How do I schedule a wedding at Buff’s Garden?

There is no reservation process in place, the use of the garden is “first come, first serve.” Please see our Events page for more info on rules and City requirements.

Who do I contact about doing another memorial garden like this in Virginia Beach?

Members of the community have expressed interest in having other places at the Oceanfront where they could install memorial bricks. We suggest you contact the City of Virginia Beach to pursue that idea.