Forces of the Philanthropy: TreesUpstate

TreesUpstate

Website: treesupstate.org

Address: P.O. Box 9232, Greenville, SC, 29605
Phone: 864-884-2675

Facebook Handle: facebook.com/treesupstate
Instagram Handle: @treesupstate

Established: 2005
Number of Employees: 7
Geographic Service Area: Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties

Funding Sources

• Donations: 46%
• Grants: 21%
• Turkey Day Run: 33%

Mission Statement

TreesUpstate’s mission is to plant, promote and protect trees in the Upstate. The organization plants trees in schools, parks and neighborhoods with a focus on low- to moderate-income areas.

Did you know that cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta have significantly higher tree-canopy coverage?

Impact

With nearly 50,000 trees planted in the Upstate with the help of over 12,000 volunteers, TreesUpstate protects the region’s precious natural resources by increasing tree-canopy coverage. One mature tree can remove the equivalent of about 11,000 miles of car emissions per year.

TreesUpstate’s workforce-development program includes apprenticeships for underserved individuals ages 18-24. The program helps participants build meaningful careers in the tree and landscape industry.

Leadership

Board of Directors

• Linda Hannon, chair
• Jay Martin, secretary
• Leslie Waltz, treasurer
• Daniel Craig
• Drew Smith
• Alison Rauch
• Hollie Grein
• J. Dabney Peeples
• Chris Fincher
• Scott Carlson
• Derek Gracely
• William Gray
• Todd Horne
• Keith Jones
• Julian Nixon
• Alison Tucker

Fundraisers and Events

• School, parks and neighborhood plantings
• Energy Saving Tree giveaways, presented by Duke Energy
• Turkey Day Run
• Red Maple Society Tours

Volunteer Opportunities

Since 2005, more than 12,000 volunteers have joined TreesUpstate in our mission to enhance the region’s green spaces. We host annual planting events from October to March, offering opportunities to participate in tree giveaways, tree plantings and unloading trucks filled with trees. All events are family friendly, and we provide all the necessary tools for volunteers to get involved.

Giving Opportunities

Supporters can:

• Donate to the TreesUpstate Annual Fund
• Register for the Turkey Day Run in downtown Greenville, the Upstate’s largest race
• Contribute to funding a tree care apprentice scholarship