Trees Forever Needs Your Support
Dear Friends of Trees Forever,
It’s that time of year again: the time when your mailbox fills up with appeals from charities and nonprofits asking for your financial support. So you probably aren’t surprised to get an appeal letter from Trees Forever, too.
Like others, we need your support – this year maybe more than ever. For the first time in many years, we have yet to reach our annual fundraising goal.
Some people may ask, “Why trees? Aren’t there so many other important causes out there?”
Trees and natural areas are crucial to our quality of life today, and in the future. I know you understand this. You’ve shown that through your past involvement with Trees Forever.
In a survey we did earlier this year, the majority of you said you support Trees Forever because you want to leave your land, your communities, and your world a better place. You want your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to have a greener, healthier world tomorrow and for generations to come.
Dozens of studies from across the nation have shown the many benefits that trees and plants provide to homeowners, farmers, businesses, and communities. But the significance of trees and tree planting goes much deeper for many of you. To expand on this, let me share a few of the many wonderful stories behind the work we do.
For the past several years, you have helped plant trees at new Habitat for Humanity homes in communities across the state. It is always a wonderful experience to help these families plant a tree or two in the yard of their very first home. The pride that they show, and the care that they take in planting and caring for each tree, is truly inspiring.
It’s especially fun when there are young children involved. Children get so excited to dig the hole, or carry the tree, or spread a little mulch around its base. They always seem to get such joy out of helping plant their new tree – often even naming the tree!
Ask the members of the Creston High School FFA Chapter about why they keep planting trees. With support from Trees Forever and others, these young people and their predecessors have been learning about the importance of trees and greening their community for the past 21 years. To date they have planted nearly 3,400 trees throughout Creston!
This fall, the FFA group wanted to do their part to help Southwestern Community College recover from a tornado, and because of contributions from caring people like you, Trees Forevert was able to support them.
And then there is Leon Sigwarth, a farmer whose land overlooks the mighty Mississippi River. Leon decided many years ago that he wanted to leave a natural legacy for his children and grandchildren. Over the years he has planted hundreds of trees and several acres of prairie on his land, much of this to protect the water quality in the streams and ponds that he and his family fish from. He also appreciates the wildlife and pollinator habitat that the trees and prairie provide.
When we asked him why he’s done all this planting and conservation, Leon quietly said that it just makes him “feel good” knowing that he is improving and caring for the land so that it can be used and enjoyed by his family, and others, for generations to come.
Trees Forever has provided staff technical support and funding to help Leon accomplish his dreams. And your support helped us do that!
That’s really what we’re all about at Trees Forever. As our new slogan says, we are planting a better tomorrow™.
Planting and caring for trees and other natural areas ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy the many valuable benefits trees provide for decades to come – benefits like:
· Cleaner waterways and drinking water
· Greater energy conservation and savings
· Attractive, vibrant, and livable communities
· Healthier educational and recreational opportunities
· Improved air quality and less greenhouse gas
If we don’t plant and care for trees today, who will? As the old saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today!
Having planted over 3 million trees over the past 23 years, we can see the results of our work all over Iowa, Illinois, and the Midwest. And with new insect and disease threats all around us, we know the need will continue to grow.
Won’t you please take a few minutes to send us your support today? With your help, we can continue planting a better tomorrow.
With your help, Trees Forever can continue to help homeowners, schools, neighborhood groups, communities, farmers, business owners, and rural landowners who want to make a difference - people who want to create a better future for our children and our planet.
No one else offers the services and support that we do. We hear this all the time. Many of our programs are unique in Iowa and Illinois (in the country, in fact). And the collaborations and partnerships we have developed allow us to leverage our efforts and offer even more.
As one person put it, “Trees Forever is the glue that keeps everything together. Our project would not have been successful without their help!”
Trees Forever needs your help to continue to do all the important work we do each and every year. We need your help to plant and care for more trees and natural areas across Iowa and Illinois. We need your help to ensure that we are leaving our land and communities and our world a better place for future generations.
Please send a generous donation today. When you do, you too can feel good knowing that, together, we are truly planting a better tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Shannon Ramsay
Founding President and CEO