 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| For media and public awareness events information please contact: | ||
Tour des Trees Rolls Into City Of Trees
KSBW News Coverage |
NEWS RELEASE July 18, 2007 MEDIA CONTACT: TREE Fund 2007 TOUR DES TREES Wheaton, Illinois – Making the world a better place often means making behind-the-scenes efforts that improve results for others. The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) helps fight global warming and improve people’s lives by funding research and education in the field of tree care and urban forestry. The Fund helps make sure the trees being planted all over California, the U.S. and the world live long enough to benefit the environment. Right now more than 80 cyclists are getting ready for the TREE Fund Tour des Trees which starts in Sacramento on July 20 and ends July 26 in San Jose. Their “Shade Crusade” will see them pedaling more than 550 miles through the mountains and into five major cities of Northern California.. (See Event Schedule). For 16 years the TREE Fund Tour des Trees has brought riders of all ages and abilities together for a common cause: to raise money for tree research and to educate the public about the benefits and responsibilities of healthy urban forests and community trees. Don Roppolo Jr., a three-time Tour rider, says, “The synergistic energy from a passion for trees and bicycling has a way of changing the lives of both the riders and the public, as they interact along the ride. Fun is the key to the Tour as lifelong friendships are forged among riders and a lifelong appreciation for trees is found by the public.” While each rider raises $3,500 or more to participate in the full tour, the TREE Fund also lines up corporate sponsors to help them present the Tour des Trees, America’s largest fundraising event to improve the care of trees through research and education. This year’s TREE Fund partners are Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and STIHL Inc. Why Get Involved? More and more people are realizing that trees don’t just look good in the environment, they’re good for the environment. That’s why major California utilities are helping consumers plant them by the hundreds of thousands. That’s why New York City plans to plant a million trees next year. Properly planted trees significantly reduce residential heating and cooling costs. They clean pollutants from the air and reduce the urban heat island effect – the buildup of heat caused by non-reflective surfaces like roads, parking lots and buildings. Trees soak up storm water runoff, slowing the flow into storm sewers and other drainage systems. Benefits like these mean billions of dollars saved on infrastructure. The benefits to people’s mental and physical health are priceless. We know all this, plus how to keep those vital community and urban trees healthy, because of studies financed by TREE Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and funding projects and programs that advance knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees and the environment. The TREE Fund helps to finance breakthrough research on the best ways to plant trees and to protect them from insects, disease and other hazards. Through its Safe Arborist Fund and other means, the TREE Fund works to keep tree workers safe while they do their physically and mentally demanding jobs. The TREE Fund Tour des Trees has raised over three million dollars since its inception in 1991. Every mile the cyclists ride raises revenue that supports important research, helping trees flourish in communities around the world. Besides Asplundh, PG&E and STIHL, major national sponsors for the 2007 TREE Fund Tour des Trees include the F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company. Regional sponsors include Wright Tree Service, based in Iowa and West Coast Arborists of California. Janet Bornancin, Executive Director for the TREE Fund, explains, “Our unique focus on urban tree research makes us relevant to just about everyone since 80% of the U.S. population lives in urban centers. Research has shown that healthy, mature trees significantly improve air quality, reduce energy consumption, encourage wildlife and improve our quality of life. But research is still needed to find better ways to maintain mature urban trees, as well as the newly planted ones, and prevent damage from pests and diseases.” About the TREE Fund: As a non-profit, non-government organization, the TREE Fund relies on donations from the public to fund its educational activities and research grants. Tax-deductible donations can be made by mail to the TREE Fund, 711 E. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 or online at www.treefund.org where you can also find more information about the organization. For more information about the Tour des Trees, please visit www.tourdestrees.org or contact the TREE Fund office at the address listed above.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
TREE Fund 2007 TOUR DES TREES Wheaton, Illinois – The Tree Research & Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) is partnering with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Asplundh Tree Expert Company, and STIHL Inc. to present America’s largest fundraising event to improve the care of trees through research and education – the 2007 Tour des Trees. Cyclists from all over North America and beyond are gearing up for the “Shade Crusade,” a 550+ mile bicycle ride through Northern California and the Bay area, raising public awareness along the way to support healthy community forests and urban trees. Trees don’t just look good in the environment, they’re good for the environment. That’s why New York City plans to plant a million trees in the next year. That’s why major California utilities are helping consumers plant them by the hundreds of thousands. Properly planted trees significantly reduce residential heating and cooling costs. They clean pollutants from the air and reduce the so-called urban heat island effect – the buildup of heat caused by non-reflective surfaces like roads, parking lots and buildings. Trees soak up storm water runoff, slowing the flow into storm sewers and other drainage systems. Benefits like these mean billions of dollars saved on infrastructure. The benefits to people’s mental and physical health are priceless. We know all this, plus how to keep those vital community and urban trees healthy, because of studies financed by TREE Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and funding projects and programs that advance knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees and the environment. The week-long TREE Fund Tour des Trees starts Friday, July 20 in Sacramento, CA with a tree planting at the Capitol, then rides along the Sacramento River to end the day in Clearlake. En route the next day to Santa Rosa, the cyclists will plant a tree in Healdsburg. Another tree gets planted in Santa Rosa, thanks to Lisa Ward Grant, Santa Rosa Park Superintendent and a Tour veteran. After leaving the wine country, the riders will head towards San Francisco and cross the Golden Gate Bridge. From San Francisco, the bikers pedal to Santa Cruz where another legacy will be left at a tree planting and then to the Monterey area for overnight stays until Thursday, July 26 when they arrive in San Jose for the grand finale. For 16 years the TREE Fund has brought riders of all ages and abilities together for a common cause: to raise money for tree research and to educate the public. Don Roppolo Jr., a three-time Tour rider, says, “The synergistic energy from a passion for trees and bicycling has a way of changing the lives of both the riders and the public, as they interact along the ride. Fun is the key to the Tour as lifelong friendships are forged among riders and a lifelong appreciation for trees is found by the public.” Janet Bornancin, Executive Director for the TREE Fund, explains, “Our unique focus on urban tree research makes us relevant to just about everyone since 80% of the U.S. population lives in urban centers. Research has shown that healthy, mature trees significantly improve air quality, reduce energy consumption, encourage wildlife and improve our quality of life. But research is still needed to find better ways to maintain mature urban trees, as well as newly planted ones, and prevent damage from pests and diseases.” Besides Asplundh, STIHL and PG&E, major sponsors for the 2007 TREE Fund Tour des Trees include the national corporation, F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company and regional sponsors Wright Tree Service, based in Iowa and West Coast Arborists of California. As a non-profit, non-government organization, the TREE Fund relies on donations from the public to fund its educational activities and research opportunities. Tax-deductible donations can be made by mail to the TREE Fund, 711 E. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 or online at www.treefund.org where you can also find more information about the organization. For more information about the Tour des Trees, please visit the website at www.tourdestrees.org or contact the TREE Fund office at the address listed above.
Overnight destinations for the 2007 TREE Fund Tour des Trees: July 19, 2007 Sacramento, CA ### |
|
| Support a Rider Become a Rider Volunteer Sponsors |
| photos courtesy of Alvin Gilens | Web design by QDesign |