The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) announcedrevenues from its three events – the STIHL Tour des Trees, the Raise Your Hand for Research Auctions and the Asplundh Golf Outing – raised $765,000 in 2014; setting a new record for the foundation.

TREE Fund research has contributed to:

Improved utility vegetation management practices
Understanding of air pollution reduction and carbon sequestration by trees
Quantification of the benefits of urban trees
Improved transplant survival rates in difficult sites
More effective disease and pest management strategies for urban trees

“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 raised 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
1,500 children’s books about trees were distributed to young attendees and Wisconsin libraries
Overall, the Raise Your Hand for Research Auctions generated $143,459 for the TREE Fund

Sources: Stihl TOUR DE TREES, TREE Fund, STIHL Inc., Bartlett Tree Experts ,The Davey Tree Expert Company, Arborjet, Asplundh, ISA, KASK, TCIA and Wisconsin Arborist Association, Naperville, IL, September 12, 2014