The Link

6/27/2012
TREES FOREVER

Hoopeston Landowners Win Special Trees Forever Award

Award Presented at Recent Annual Celebration Event

Hoopeston, IL - (June 27, 2012) Local landowners and retired educators Tom and Jane Sweeney were recently honored by Trees Forever at its annual celebration and awards ceremony. The Sweeneys received an Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Iowa-based nonprofit environmental organization.

As participants in the Trees Forever Illinois Buffer Partnership program, the Sweeneys were recognized for helping to promote conservation buffer plantings in their area. In September 2011, the Sweeneys hosted a Trees Forever educational field day on their property to highlight the role of trees, shrubs and native plants in improving water quality.

"Tom and Jane hosted a fun and well-attended event that showcased their agroforestry buffer planting of hazelnuts. Combining food, music, and drama, they set a very high bar for future field day hosts!" notes Shannon Ramsay, founding president of Trees Forever.

The Sweeneys' award was presented at a special luncheon during Trees Forever's 2012 Annual Celebration, held on June 15 at the Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in Coralville, Iowa. A total of 18 awards were presented in eight different categories during this year's event.

The awards luncheon was part of a day-long celebration that included a nature photography workshop, a panel discussion, and a tour of a nearby wetlands renovation project. Building on the environmental messages of the recently released movie, The Lorax, the theme of this year's celebration was "Who Speaks for the Trees?" Event attendees were also able to view several displays highlighting Trees Forever's various programs and projects, as well as displays from partnering organizations.

Alice Ewen, National Program Manager for Urban & Community Forestry with the U.S. Forest Service, was the keynote speaker at the awards luncheon. Ewen was formerly the Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Trees, a national organization of which Trees Forever is a charter member.

Trees Forever is celebrating its 23rd year of tree planting and other environmental efforts. To date, through a network of thousands of community volunteers, the organization has planted over 3 million trees in Iowa, Illinois and the Midwest. They have also developed educational materials that are distributed nationally and internationally.

For more information on Trees Forever or this year's award winners, please call 1-800-369-1269, or log onto www.TreesForever.org.

-30-

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.


(For more information please contact: Mark Signs at 319-325-7750 (mobile) or e-mail msigns@treesforever.org)