TREE Fund 2014 events set record, top $765,000
The TREE Fund is proud to announce that revenues from its three summer fundraising events – the STIHL Tour des Trees, the Raise Your Hand for Research Auctions and the Asplundh Golf Outing – surpassed $765,000 in 2014, setting a new fundraising record for the foundation. Hundreds of tree enthusiasts and dozens of industry sponsors participated in a trifecta of fundraising events staged in and around the 2014 International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Conference and Trade Show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“I am grateful to every donor, sponsor, volunteer, board member and the TREE Fund staff who contributed to the success of our 2014 events,” said Janet Bornancin, President/CEO of TREE Fund. “The money we raised together will fund important arboriculture research, scholarships and education programs. Science is the key to combatting the threats to our urban canopies posed by pests, disease and urban development while improving public and workforce safety. TREE Fund scholarships and education programs engage the next generation of tree stewards and ensure that our discoveries are put to the best possible use.”
The STIHL Tour des Trees officially launched the fundraising marathon on July 27. 85 cyclists rolled out from Milwaukee’s famed Summer Fest grounds for a 600-mile, weeklong tour of Wisconsin, raising over $608,000 and generating awareness of the value that mature, healthy trees bring to communities.
Canadian cyclist and ‘certified arborfessor’ Professor Elwood Pricklethorn presented a kid-friendly short course in tree science to kids and families in seven locations across the state, and 1,500 children’s books about trees were distributed to young attendees and Wisconsin libraries. 23 new trees were dedicated by the cyclists during events at local libraries, parks, the State Capitol, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Green Bay’s 9/11 Memorial, GermanFest and the Wisconsin State Fair.
Top Tour fundraisers Mike Neal ($8,445), Randy Miller ($7,640) and Paul Sellers ($7,302) earned merchandise certificates from title sponsor STIHL for their efforts. Visit www.stihltourdestrees.org to view photos or donate to the campaign.
Hundreds enjoyed a lively evening of fun and fundraising on August 4, 2014 at the Raise Your Hand for Research Live Auction at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. Bidders competed for trips to Italy, Guatemala, New Orleans, British Columbia, Boston, Bali and everywhere in between.
A shiny Harley-Davidson and handcrafted canoe lent an iconic Wisconsin touch to the catalog, and games of chance enlivened the evening.Cindy Weidner’s winning “Golden Ticket”, purchased for $100, was exchanged for a Holland America cruise for two, and TREE Fund Chairman Jim Zwack’s luck held through the last round to claim the $500 Heads or Tails prize. David Boone, Sonny Gober and Shawn Bernick shared $3,798 in Split the Pot Raffle winnings, and Josh Zarling and Jason Diehl chose the winning keys to open Mystery Boxes. Overall, the Raise Your Hand for Research Auctions generated $143,459 for the TREE Fund.
Asplundh Tree Expert Co. and Wisconsin rolled out a classic summer day for Asplundh’s annual golf outing to benefit the TREE Fund, held at The Bog on August 3. 68 golfers teed up to benefit tree research and education, and a record number of sponsors pitched in to keep the fun factor high. With support from perennial sponsors Altec and Terex and a record number of hole sponsors, the event raised $16,000 for the TREE Fund.