Belmond Trees Forever Group to be Honored
Belmond, Iowa – (April 22, 2010) – A special ceremony on Arbor Day will recognize Belmond for its role as the original pilot project for a popular Trees Forever program. Representatives from Trees Forever and Alliant Energy will be in town to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Branching Out community tree-planting program. Belmond Trees Forever was the first group that benefited from the award-winning tree-planting program.
Trees Forever board members and staff, along with representatives from Alliant Energy, will join members of Belmond Trees Forever for an Arbor Day tree-planting event at Jacobson Elementary School in Belmond on Friday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. Students from several classes will help plant new trees on the school property. Representatives from all three groups will speak briefly about the history of the Branching Out program and the benefits of trees.
“We are thrilled to return to Belmond to celebrate our 20-year partnership with Belmond Trees Forever and Alliant Energy,” states Shannon Ramsay, Founding President of the national Trees Forever organization. “It is amazing what this dedicated and enthusiastic group of local volunteers has been able to achieve here in Belmond, working with the Branching Out program over the past two decades.”
In honor of the day’s significance, the Trees Forever national Board of Directors will also hold their quarterly board meeting on Friday, April 30, at the Belmond City Hall. Members of the Belmond Trees Forever group are planning to present a historical retrospective to the Trees Forever board and staff. In addition, Belmond Trees Forever will be given a special award to recognize their unique role in the history of Trees Forever and the Branching Out program.
Belmond was selected by Trees Forever and Alliant Energy (then IES Utilities) for a community tree-planting pilot project in the fall of 1990. The initial concept was to provide “seed” grants for local tree-planting projects, with on-site assistance to be provided by Trees Forever field staff. Communities were asked to match the grant dollars with local donations, volunteer hours and in-kind services. The first Belmond project was a residential tree giveaway in the fall of 1990 and spring of 1991.
With the success of the Belmond pilot project, Alliant Energy committed to sponsoring the program throughout their Iowa service territory, and the Branching Out program was born! Trees Forever administers the statewide program, and provides staff assistance and ongoing support to participating communities. In addition to promoting energy conservation, the program is seen as a way to help beautify communities and promote community betterment in general.
Since its humble beginnings in Belmond in 1990, the Branching Out program has awarded over 2,500 grants for community projects. Approximately 1,142,500 trees have been planted in Iowa communities as part of this wonderful partnership. The Branching Out program has won several state and national awards, and serves as a model for successful community tree-planting projects nationwide.
Members of the public are welcome to attend this special Arbor Day tree-planting event at the Jacobsen Elementary School. For more information on the Belmond Arbor Day tree-planting event, the Branching Out program, or Trees Forever, please call Barb Grabner-Kerns, Trees Forever Field Coordinator, at 515-570-1880 or 800-369-1269. You can also log onto the Trees Forever website at www.TreesForever.org.
Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization based in Marion, IA committed to planting trees, encouraging community involvement and stewardship, and caring for the environment. Programs focus on improving air and water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, providing substantial energy savings and beautifying our landscape. For more information visit www.treesforever.org or call 800-369-1269.
Branching Out is a nationally-recognized program where Alliant Energy, Trees Forever and Iowa communities work together to plan and create outstanding tree-planting projects. The program is designed to encourage energy efficiency, environmental awareness, and community stewardship in Iowa. Branching Out is offered exclusively to Iowa communities where Alliant Energy provides electric and/or natural gas service. The utility provides grants of between $500 and $10,000 for community-based, tree-planting projects – like parks, gateways, cemeteries, nature trails, libraries, nursing homes, schools and more. Trees Forever administers the program, providing technical and planning support