2023 Green Gala Program

The second annual

Green Gala

C e l e b r at i n g 2 0 2 3 T r e e C h a m p i o n

Da l e Th o rpe S at u r d ay , A p r i l 2 2 , 2 02 3 6 o’clock in Tiedeman Park

Savannah Tree Foundation Staff and Board welcome you to the Second Annual Green Gala!

Bo a r d o f Di r e c t o r s Pitch Powers, President Matthew Hallett, Vice President Ellen Harris, Treasurer Karen Karp, Secretary Patti King, Event Chair Benjamin Baxter Brandy Blige Adams Amy Gutting William Haws Shem Kendrick Drew Ruttinger Jody Trumbull Phillip Zellner

Directors Emeriti

Staff

Lynda Beam Dale Thorpe Suzanne Williams

Zoe Rinker Jake Henry Grace Wilson

With your support, Savannah Tree Foundation protects and grows Chatham County’s urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy.

Program Please enjoy cocktails and passed hos d’oeurves under our iconic tree canopy, then make your way to your table for a buffet dinner and brief award presentation.

6-7:30

Cockta i ls

7 :30

We lcome Re mar ks Matthew Hallett, Vice President Patti King, Event Chair

7 :45 D i n n e r B u f f e t Op ens 8 : 15

2 02 3 Tr e e C h a m p io n Awar d Pr e se n te d to Dal e Th o r p e Zoe Rinker, Executive Director

8 : 45 Si le n t Au cti on C los es

Ou r Tr e e s , Ou r Fu tu r e

2023 Tree Champion

Da l e T h or p e Savannah Tree Foundation is proud to honor Dale Thorpe as our inaugural Tree Champion. For nearly 30 years, Dale has dedicated her time and talent to the conservation and planting of trees. Her leadership helped Savannah rise to the forefront of the early urban forestry movement.

Dale served on the STF board from 1994 until 2017, including eight years as treasurer and four years as president. Dale helped STF ramp up community tree planting efforts during this time, coordinating dozens of plantings which resulted in over 1,500 new trees planted.

Dale’s name has become synonymous with Savannah Tree Foundation. We are grateful for her hard work that helped shaped the organization we are today.

Click below to watch a brief video about Dale’s time with Savannah Tree Foundation.

2022-2023 Planting Season The Green Gala marks the end to one of our most prolific planting seasons ever!

Between November 2022 and April 2023, we planted 280 trees at 13 sites across Coastal Georgia. For the first time ever, we planted with partners in Bryan and Effingham Counties.

We also gave away more than 1,200 trees to our friends and neighbors.

That’s nearly 1,500 new trees for our region!

Thank you to our 2022-2023 planting and giveaway partners: Arbor Day Foundation, State Farm, Georgia Tree Council, FedEx, Georgia Power, YMCA of Coastal Georgia, West Broad YMCA, The Rotary Club of Savannah, Garden Club of Savannah, Oatland Island Wildlife Center, Bethesda Academy, Girl Scout Camp Low, the City of Savannah, Chatham County, the City of Tybee, Coastal Heritage Society, Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens Coastal Bryan Tree Foundation, and Effingham Georgia Green

And a special thank you to Gulfstream Aerospace, our Georgia Arbor Month and Magnolia Event Sponsor

Thank you to our Event Sponsors Tupelo

Poplar Craig and Diana Barrow

Dale and Lila Critz

Mark and Patt Suwyn

Cypress The Bockius-Suwyn Family Karen Karp Joan Chalakian Audrey Platt Colonial Oil Eleanor Rhangos Susan & Joseph Dockman & Dan Bromstad Environmental Designs, Inc. Samet Corporation Ethos Preservation Savannah Area REALTORS Georgia Ports Authority Select Trees Gro-Masters, Inc. Maura Sovchen HALLETT & Co. Thomas and Hutton Brian & Jennifer Huskey Tidewater Group Jolly Foundation Vantosh Realty

Auction Preview

Two-Night Stay on Little Saint Simons

Low Country Boil on the Bluff

Two Tickets to Hamilton at the Fox Theater

Grand Picnic Excursion

The silent auction will be held online, including night-of bidding.

To ensure a seamless experience, please consider registering to bid before the evening begins.

REGISTER

T h a n k y o u to O U R G r e e n S p o n s o r s , Who helped Us host a n e c o - F r i e n dy e v e n t :

Composting: C O R C O M P O S T Recycling: P r at t I n d u s t r i e s Glass Recycling: L a m m e r g e i e r