Tree Trust
Description: Founded in 1976, Tree Trust is a 501(c)(3) Minnesota nonprofit organization created to address two problems: the devastation of the urban tree canopy due to Dutch elm disease, and the high unemployment and poverty rates for youth and adults. We began combating these issues by providing out-of-work individuals with paid jobs reforesting the community. Since then we have expanded to provide integrated employment training, community forestry and environmental education programs.
Target demographics: We offer services to youth and adults of all ethnicities, incomes and abilities throughout the Twin Cities metro area and in selected communities in Greater Minnesota, while maintaining a particular focus on underserved populations and neighborhoods.
Direct beneficiaries per year: Each year we directly serve 7,000 people and countless neighborhoods, parks and recreation areas through our programs.
Geographic areas served: Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area
Board Members and Affiliation: Mr. G. Rolf Svendsen, Chair (Stifel Nicolaus)
Mr. Donald C. Willeke, Vice Chair (Willeke & Daniels)
Mr. Charlie Kraemer, Treasurer (DC Group, Inc.)
Mr. Bob Hand, Secretary (Retired, MN DEED)
Mr. Carl Baer, Member (Bowtie Creative Group)
Mr. Kim Jenkins, Member (SunOpta, Inc.)
Mr. Carl Jones, Member (Mid American Financial Group)
Ms. Barbara MGraw, Member (Minnesota Lee Hecht Harrison)
Mr. Jack Provo, Member (Retired, State of MN)
Mr. Scott A Schunckle, Member (HealthPartners)
Mr. Doug Peterson, Member (CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc.)
Mr. Eric Sullivan, Emeritus Member (CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc.)
Mr. John Peyton, Trustee Emeritus (Riverbridge Partners)
Mr. Wayne Reffke, Trustee Emeritus (Retired, Forster Products)
Mr. Kirk Brown, Trustee Emeritus (Retired, Tree Trust)
Tree Trust’s mission is to improve the community environment by investing in people.
• Provided job training and employment for 32,000 young people and 10,000 adults.
• Completed hundreds of park maintenance, landscaping and construction projects.
• Planted 72,000 trees and shrubs in schools, parks and community areas.
• Increased awareness and educated 115,000 students, teachers and community members about the importance of trees and green spaces to the health and vitality of a community.
