2009 Trees for Success National Tree Planting Campaign

Tell us why your community is in need!

The Home Depot Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation strongly believe that the strategic planting and preservation of community trees has a positive impact on the health of local communities. Trees are a source of life. Trees remove air pollution, filter out chemicals in our water, reduce energy costs for our schools and homes and even help children follow direction and have better focus in the classroom. For these reasons and with your help, we are working together to raise awareness about the importance of community trees and help bolster local tree canopies in schools and communities across the country through the Trees for Success Program.

The goal for the tree planting celebrations sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation is to demonstrate in a hands-on way the important role trees play in our communities, and to emphasize the environmental, health and social benefits that can be gained by planting trees.

Both Foundations believe that the single act of planting a tree has the power to be the catalyst for profound environmental and community change. Local school children, businesses and conservation organizations will help plant the large trees during each event held across the country, drawing attention to the importance of urban tree cover in our cities.

Applications will be considered from the following entities:

1. Schools — this includes pre-K through middle schools.
2. 501(c)(3) builder or developer of affordable housing.
3. Cities and towns — This would include the mayor or the mayors staff, city forester or arborist, department heads, or other city employees.
4. 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
5. Neighborhood or community organizations.

These tree-planting events are an opportunity to publicize the importance of a broad forestry management plan for cities and the many benefits of community trees.

One of our goals for each event will be to coordinate the plantings with community leaders and specifically the city forester, city arborist or similar community representative to ensure that each planting is appropriate for the conditions and region.

Please read the following section carefully before you begin the application process. The details listed below outline the responsibilities and expectations for each of the planting events. If you have any questions, check our FAQ.

If your school or community is selected to be part of the Trees for Success National Campaign you will receive:

• Up to 100 new trees for your proposed site.
• Lesson plans and activities guides that relate to trees for communities and schools.
• A hands-on outdoor learning experience for your students.
• Professional assistance and guidance with the planting of the new trees.
• The opportunity to be part of a nation-wide tree planting campaign.
• Positive local publicity for your school and city.
• Applicants wishing to participate in the 2009 National Tree-Planting Tour agree to submit a site that is in need of new trees and is able to accommodate between 25 and 100 large (fifteen-gallon size) trees.
• The applicant, as well as the appropriate city contacts, chosen to participate will be responsible for recommending the appropriate trees for the planting site. Selected applicants would also assist with recruiting local school children and community volunteers to participate in the event. Cities or the appropriate site contacts should also agree to provide necessary water and mulch for the newly planted trees for up to one year following the event.
• The Arbor Day Foundation and The Home Depot Foundation will coordinate all media outreach for the events, which will include a press conference at each site selected. The date for the tree-planting event will be selected by The Arbor Day Foundation and The Home Depot Foundation in consultation with the appropriate site contacts. Both Foundations will help recruit local volunteers to assist with the planting of the new trees and invite appropriate local partners to participate. In addition, the Foundations will oversee all logistical aspects for the event, including signage, volunteer registration, catering, scheduling, and the press conference.

Yes, I have read and agree to the responsibilities outlined above.

If you experience difficulties or errors with this application:

• Print out application and fax to: 402-473-9556, or
• Copy text into an e-mail and send to jboettcher@arborday.org.

Required fields look like this.

Fields requiring correction look like this.

Applicant’s Contact Information

Each applicant may submit up to five unique site applications.

Applicant’s Name:

Title:

Name of organization or school that you are representing:

Type of applicant:

—Select one— School—Pre-K through middle school 501(c)(3) builder or developer City or town 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Neighborhood or community organization

Mailing Address:

Line 2:

City:

State:

—Select one— Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Loisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Zip code:

Day phone:

E-mail:

City Information

City Name:

City Population:

To apply, the population of the city where the planting will take place must be at least 30,000.

Tree City USA^®

Is your school or the proposed site located in a Tree City USA^® city?

View a complete list of Tree City USA cities.

Yes.

No.

Tree Line USA^®

Is your school or the proposed site located in the service area of a Tree Line USA designated utility company?

View a complete list of Tree Line USA utility companies.

Yes.

No.

Tree Planting Event Site Information

Each applicant may submit up to five unique site applications.

Please limit each answer to no more than 300 words.

Site name:

e.g., Ahrens Park, George Washington High School

Site address:

Line 2:

Site city:

Site state:

—Select one— Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Loisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Site zip code:

How many large, 15-gallon trees can this proposed site appropriately accommodate?:

—Select one— 25 to 50 trees 50 to 75 trees 75 to 100 trees

Provide a description of the proposed site location:

Include the following:

1. A brief history of the proposed site.
2. The importance of the proposed site to the city.

Word count:

Is this propopsed planting site located in or near a city redevelopment area or an affordable housing initiative?

Yes.

No.

Why should this location be selected to host a tree planting event? What makes this location and its need(s) unique?

Word count:

How will your organization use this tree-planting event to emphasize how trees play a role in creating healthy, livable communities?

Word count:

Who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of these new trees after they are planted?

Word count:

Extra Credit

Why planting trees will make my community more healthy and livable!

Attention — students, families, teachers, neighborhood groups and all others! The extra credit is not required to submit with the application; it is strongly recommended. We are looking for letters or brief essays on Why planting trees will make my community more healthy and livable. Letters or essays can be included with this application in the space provided below, e-mailed separate from this application to Jennifer Boettcher or mailed to the address at the end of the application. These letters or short essays will be a great tool to gauge the students enthusiasm for participating in the national campaign.

Urban Forestry Coordinator

One of our goals for each event will be to coordinate the plantings with community leaders and specifically the city forester, city arborist or similar community representative to ensure that each planting is appropriate for the conditions of the region. We strongly recommend before you submit this application that you consult with the city forester, city arborist or similar city representative to ensure that this proposed site is in accordance with the community forestry plan. If your city does not have a city forester or city arborist, consult with a similar city representative, such as one of the following: tree board member, public works department, parks and recreation department, or a member of the citys forestry department, etc.

Urban forestry coordinator approval

Has the city forester or city arborist or similar city representative reviewed this application?

Yes.

No.

Contact information

Provide contact information for the urban forestry coordinator, Tree City USA or similar city representative.

Name:

Title:

Address:

Line 2:

City:

State:

—Select one— Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Loisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Zip code:

Telephone:

E-mail Address:

One objective of this national campaign is to encourage a diverse group of urban forestry partners to work together.

Provide a list of potential urban forestry partners in your city and area:

(e.g., utility arborists, non-profit organizations, park planners, educators and other tree-related groups or individuals.)

Is there anything else we should consider as we evaluate your application?

Questions? Email Jennifer Boettcher or call her at 1-888-448-7337 #297