In the summer of 2023, Ravenswood City School District (RCSD) set off on an ambitious journey to reimagine the RCSD educational experience. Through the collaboration of RCSD staff, students, families and partner organizations, the Ravenswood Promise – a shared vision for student success and empowerment – was born.To bring this Promise to life, the District is implementing a community action plan that includes upgrading facilities, investing in academic and enrichment programs, and strengthening the bond between schools and their neighborhoods.

On MLK Day of Service, the RCSD community came together with Canopy to further bring this Promise to life by helping plant 22 trees at Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy. With these trees, Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy is working to qualify as California's first ArbNet-accredited arboretum on a K-12 public school campus. This arboretum will feature nearly 100 trees of at least 25 unique species and is the first step in a larger effort to add nearly 300 trees to school campuses across RCSD – transforming them into greener spaces that enhance student learning and community well-being.

"The arboretum represents growth, resilience, and the power of community," said Gina Sudaria, superintendent of the Ravenswood City School District. "It is a symbol of the transformation we are embarking upon — one rooted in hope, collaboration, and the promise of a brighter future for our students and their families."

Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy 4th and 5th grade classes participated in Canopy's "Planting Trees is Fun" lessons the week before the MLK planting. In the classroom, the students learn about the function of different tree parts and how we use that information to plant trees by investigating real examples of tree parts. Then the students head outside to plant trees on their school campus, partnering with Canopy to plant the campus arboretum and increase tree canopy across RCSD schools.

Canopy is grateful to partner with RCSD on this community planting and effort to bring a legacy of lasting shade, clean air, and outdoor learning environments for the RCSD community. Tree cheers to RCSD!

Read more about the MLK Day tree planting at Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy in the news:

Thank you for your support!

Thanks to your generous support during the year-end giving season, Canopy was able to fully secure the $25,000 matching opportunity provided by our Canopy’s Board of Directors and raise the funds needed to start off strong in 2025.

End-of-year fundraising appeals are crucial for non-profits large and small alike and often represent an opportunity for the organizations to raise a significant portion of their annual funding thus positively impacting our operations and programs. Canopy is tree-mendously grateful to our donors who join us to make a commitment to our local community forestry work.  

A few fun facts about our 2025 donors:

• 13% of the year-end gifts came from new-to-Canopy donors
• 26% of the gifts were received from enduring Canopy supporters with more than 20 years of gifts to Canopy
• While the vast majority of our gifts come from donors physically located near our work, Canopy donors can be found in Texas, Virginia and even Maine

Every single one of your gifts are important and make every bit of the work possible - from the craft supplies that excite a classroom of first graders, to the trees planted in community with you, to the support which made it possible for a Teen Urban Forester to experience snow for the first time while presenting at an urban forestry conference in Chicago. Canopy is grateful for your support. Thank you.

Looking for a way to enjoy the trees in your community? Join us at an upcoming Canopy event!

Canopy is pleased to be a recipient of the California ReLeaf 2025 Growing Green Communities Grant! Philanthropic support powers Canopy’s work to make possible additional tree planting, care and education where it is needed most. This one time grant opportunity will support a collaborative planting project in North Fair Oaks to plant trees together with the KIPP Excelencia Community Prep and Connect Community Charter School communities on their shared campus! The campus tree planting will occur during 2025 California Arbor Week (March 7-14). Look out for the planting details on our Events Calendar!

January 20, 2025 | East Palo Alto - More than 200 volunteers and community partners gathered to commemorate the life and service of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. by planting 22 trees at Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy. Thank you to our Planting Leaders, Teen Urban Foresters, Community Forestry School Graduates, Los Robles-Ronald McNair students and families, Woodside Priory School sophomore class, members of YMSL Alpine Chapter, Oshman Family JCC, and volunteers from the local community.

January 25, 2025 | Mountain View - 14 street trees were planted across 11 planting sites in Mountain View with the help of Canopy Planting Leaders, Community Forestry School Graduates, Teen Urban Foresters, YMSL Alpine Chapter, and community volunteers.

Lisa Dutton Shader and Dan Shader

in honor of Dave Armstrong

Nicole and Peter Smith

in honor of Alexander James

Becky Bartindale

in honor of Palo Alto Poet & Arborist Bob Evans

Sid Modler

in honor of Robert

Suzanne Garadis

in honor of John Erving

Butch Byers

in honor of Judith Byers

Karen and Al Pace

in honor of the All Five partnership!

Katherine Glassey

in honor of the Tree Whisperer Benefit Event

Mimi and Bill Meffert

in honor of Marty Deggeller

Lisa Van Dusen and John Kelley

in honor of Elizabeth May

Amalia Kessler

in honor of Luca Hwang 

Maria Chai and Family

in honor of Allan Ng

Growing Greener ReLeaf

Kiwanis Club of Mountain View

Palo Alto Kiwanis Club

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.