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Canopy's Annual Report to the Community
Fiscal Year 2011 - A Momentous Anniversary
Friend of Canopy It has been a momentous, record-  breaking anniversary for Canopy. I am writing to convey our results and thank you for everything you have done to make our achievements possible. I am also writing to ask for your support in the coming year.We combined our Annual Report and Appeal, and prepared an online copy for your review. The document recaps the past fiscal year, provides a financial summary, and acknowledges our many wonderful donors and volunteers. This document also outlines our vision for 2012. Right now, through a generous  challenge grant from the Dean Witter Foundation, every new or increased donation will be matched 1-to-1 up to $10,000. We have a limited time to take advantage of this offer, so please make your donation to Canopy by December 31, 2011.As we approach the new year, we hope that you will join our mission, share our good work with your friends and neighbors, and make a donation to support our efforts.
Thank you for your support! We could not plant and protect our local urban forests without your help. Yours for our trees, Catherine Martineau Executive Director |
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Achievements 2011: A Momentous Year!
July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
 PLANTING TREES
Planting events: 9
Tree planted in FY2011: 272
Trees planted since 1996: 2,404
515 volunteers who gave 1,675 hours
Students at schools with new trees: 2,595 SHARING INSIGHT AND KNOWLEDGE Palo Alto Arbor Day Festival
Monthly arborist-led Tree Walks
Workshops and outreach events: 23
Total attendees at events: 1,807
Visits to CANOPY.ORG: 43,799
Users of our Community Arborist List: 2,496
Contacts to our Tree Hotline: 800
CARING FOR TREES Canopy Youth Staff and volunteers surveyed, weeded, watered, mulched,pruned thousands of young trees in Palo
Alto and East Palo Alto
Trees cared for: 2,350
Projects completed: 49
205 volunteers who gave 406 hours
ENGAGING YOUTH East Palo Alto high-school students
play a pivotal role in caring for their
urban forest by educating others
as they gain work experience.
Canopy employed Youth Staff: 6
Hours worked by Youth Staff: 815
Youth Staff Education Events:19
Students reached by Canopy: 479
ADVOCATING FOR THE URBAN FOREST Throughout the community Canopy  promoted the preservation of mature trees, implemented and designed tree planting projects, and recommended the selection of drought-tolerant/ climate-adapted trees.
Project designs completed: 9 Other active projects this fiscal year: 8 |
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Vision 2012: Advancing Core Programs
Planting and protecting trees
Canopy's vision is to create a continuous, sustainable, and thriving urban forest connecting parks, schools, and scenic streets for public enjoyment, health, and inspiration. Through 2012 Canopy will continue to focus on: - Creating Outdoor Equity
- Advocating for the Trees
- Engaging the Community
Through our Healthy Trees, Healthy Kids! initiative, we will plant 250 new trees at local schools such as Escondido Elementary School in Palo Alto; Bell Haven Elementary in Menlo Park; and Brentwood Academy, Cesar Chavez Academy and Costano Elementary in East Palo Alto. |
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Jim Burch: Honoring a local leader
 Jim Burch, a wonderful leader in our local community, passed away on Monday. As Mayor of Palo Alto, Jim helped plant many trees with Canopy, and worked to expand Palo Alto's Urban Forest into East Palo Alto. This is a photo of Jim with children on Arbor Day in 2005. We will miss him. |
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Veterans Day: 11 trees on 11-11-11
Planting Trees to Honor Veterans
On 11-11-11 Canopy planted 11 trees with the help of 65 community and veteran volunteers. The planting marked Veterans Day at the VA facility in Palo Alto. The event was made possible by Palo Alto law firm Thoits, Love, Hershberger, and McLean in honor of their founder Warren Thoits, a WWII Navy Veteran. Jason Green wrote a very moving article about our planting on the cover of the Daily news. There was also a slideshow prepared by Aaron Selverston at PATCH. We are extremely grateful to all of the volunteers who joined us to plant trees. Together we made a good impact for the many thousands of Veterans who use the facility every year. |
Looking for a meaningful holiday gift? Give The Gift That Keeps Giving:
PLANT A LOCAL TREE
We will send your friends and family members an attractive, personalized gift card. |
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Holiday Tree Walk
December 10th; 10AM
On Saturday December 10th join renowned local Arborist Kevin Raftery for our Holiday Tree Walk in Greenmeadow Neighborhood.
When: Saturday Dec. 10th from 10AM to Noon
Where: Meet at Palo Alto's Greenmeadow Community Center at 303 Parkside.
What: FREE Holiday Tree Walk with hot cider, hot cocoa, and holiday treats provided.
Click here to see the route for our Greenmeadow Tree Walk.
This Tree Walk is sponsored by Amanda Martin's State Farm Insurance office at 3968 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
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Tree Walks in 2012
Monthly, Free, and Fun!
We are pleased to announce our calendar of Arborist-led Tree Walks in 2012. Join us every month on the second Saturday from 10 am to Noon. Click here to sign up.
Jan. 14th - Gamble Garden
February 11th - Palo Verde
March 10th - Mitchell Park
(Arbor Day Celebration)
April 14th - Jr. Museum & Zoo
May 12th - Comm. Center
June 9th - Old Palo Alto
July 14th - College Terrace
August 11th - West Bayshore
Sept. 8th - University South
October 13th - Southgate
Nov. 10th - Crescent Park
Click the above links to see the self-guided Tree Walks or request a brochure: info@canopy.org or call 650-964-6110 x1
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Volunteers Welcome
December 3rd: Greer Park
On Saturday, December 3rd from from 9:00 AM to Noon, you are invited to help plant 27 of 54 new trees at Greer Park with Canopy.
We look forward to a great planting event together with the Midtown Residents Association and City Staff.
To join us, please email estefani@canopy.org or click here to sign-up.
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Leaving a Legacy
Ruth Soforenko
Canopy received a thoughtful gift from a dear friend, Ruth Soforenko, who passed away this year. Ruth and her husband Arnold started supporting Canopy fifteen years ago. Arnold was a member of the Palo Alto Tree Task Force and became Canopy's founding treasurer. Canopy's most prestigious tree award is named after him. Ruth was proud of Arnold's commitment to Canopy, and through the years planted dozens of trees in Palo Alto and East Palo Alto.
We are deeply thankful to Ruth for her support through the years, and are honored that she included Canopy in her will. To learn about planned giving options, please visit our website or email Elliott Wright our Development Director.
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Charitable IRA Rollover
Expires on December 31
The tax bill signed by President Obama to restore the IRA Charitable Rollover will expire December 31, 2011. Through 2011, taxpayers age 70½ or older can make tax-free distributions to charities directly from their standard individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs up to $100,000 per taxpayer. The charitable IRA rollover provides an opportunity to give tax-free! Make a charitable IRA rollover gift to Canopy today before this opportunity passes! Contact your IRA trustee to arrange your gift to Canopy. If you have questions please email Elliott Wright our Development Director.
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Sponsorship Highlight: State Farm
Amanda J Martin, Agent
Insurance Lic#: 0B68529
Charleston Shopping Center
3968 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Bus: 650-494-1404
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