Saturday, June 18, 2022

11:00am – 2:00pm

Eastside College Preparatory School

RSVP Deadline: Next Monday, June 13! 

Only a few days left to RSVP for Deeply Rooted, an outdoor birthday bash, fundraiser, and celebration of community!

Throughout Canopy’s history, tree champions from across sectors and cities have lent their unique talents and dedication to plant and care for trees where they are needed the most, nurture young leaders, and advocate for tree-filled neighborhoods.

Join us Saturday, June 18 as we celebrate 25 years of working together to grow healthy trees and healthy communities. As part of the festivities, Canopy is proud and grateful to honor eight tree champions, along with the key groups they represent.

Don’t miss the fun—reserve your seat by June 11!

Can’t attend but want to join the celebration in spirit? Consider a tribute gift dedicated to one of our honorees.

Thank you for your generous partnership!

At the Palo Alto city council meeting on Monday, June 6, councilmembers passed a new Tree Protection Ordinance that will protect three times as many trees, including four new native tree species found in the urban matrix (Bigleaf Maple, Incense Cedar, Blue Oak, and California Black Oak), and ensure fewer trees will be removed without cause. These updates are the first substantive changes to the Tree Protection Ordinance since 2002, and Palo Alto’s ordinance now aligns with tree protection measures nearby cities have already taken.

This process of expanding Palo Alto’s tree protection ordinance began in 2018, led by the city’s former Urban Forestry Manager Walter Passmore and Canopy, but ramped up in the last 18 months with the support of Peter Gollinger and city staff who worked on the ordinance update, residents who worked alongside Canopy to champion the policy, and partner organizations who signed a joint letter of support: Acterra, CLEAN South Bay, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Loma Prieta Chapter Sierra Club, California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter, Green Foothills, and Grassroots Ecology. 

Thank you to everyone who advocated for these changes that will protect Palo Alto’s mature, abundant, and vibrant tree canopy! Trees are the answer!

Council Member Tom DuBois showing his support for trees at the June 6, 2022 Palo Alto City Council meeting. Photo courtesy of Winter Dellenbach.

As institutions and homeowners dutifully cut back on water use, many forgot or don’t know to continue watering their trees, causing many valuable urban trees to be lost. This year the state of California and regional municipalities are enacting even more aggressive water restrictions to address the worsening drought. 

In response to these sweeping restrictions, Canopy is encouraging residents to save water and trees, the most valuable and hard-to-replace elements of our urban landscapes. In an era of climate change, we need urban trees more than ever. That’s why, even during drought, trees are worth their water.

Find resources and water-wise tree care tips at our website.

Meet the Team: Please join us in welcoming several new additions to the Canopy staff! Jack Christy is working as tree care specialist, and Paul LaVallee joined most recently as K-12 environmental educator.

Now Hiring: Canopy is searching for hard-working, dedicated people to fill a number of positions, including Director of Philanthropy, Tree Programs Manager, Community Forestry Coordinator, and Tree Care Coordinator/Assistant.

Deeply Rooted Honoree Tributes

In honor of our 25th Anniversary Tree Champion Honorees

Nancy Hope Soforenko and David Deke Gerken 

in honor of Marty Deggeller

Sally O'Neil and Ken Bencala 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Stepheny McGraw 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Bill Reller 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Annie Chiou 

in honor of Peying Lee

Mary Vincent 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Roy Leggitt and Courtney Clarkson 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Antony Awaida 

in honor of Marty Deggeller

Urban Cummings and Christine Clark 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg and Marty Degeller

Peling Lee and Colin Monkute 

in honor of Peying Lee

Selena Lau 

in honor of Peying Lee

Jesse and Kristin Herzog 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Sairus Patel and David Keyon 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Alison Hicks 

in honor of Peying Lee

Melanie Grondel 

in honor of Susan Rosenberg

Jerry Hearn and Rebecca Reynolds 

in honor of Pat Foster

Bruce England 

in honor of Peying Lee

Catherine and Pierre Martineau 

in honor of all the honorees

Thank you to all of our generous event donors and sponsors! If you’d like to contribute, there’s still time to purchase tickets or make a gift dedicated to our honorees.

Deeply Rooted Corporate Sponsors

Special thanks to corporate and local business sponsors for investing in community trees:

Ravenswood Shores Business District

West Coast Arborists, Inc.

Keith Willig Landscape Architecture

Canopy's mission is to grow the urban forest in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all.

Our vision is a day when every resident of the Midpeninsula can step outside to walk, play, and thrive under the shade of healthy trees.