the Green Gala
celebrating 2024 tree champion
Audrey Platt
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 6 o’clock
Tiedeman Park on the Atlantic Mall presented by
Savannah Tree Foundation Staff and Board welcome you to the Third Annual Green Gala!
Board of Directors
Matthew Hallett, President
Ellen Harris, Vice President
Patti King, Treasurer
Karen Karp, Secretary
Pitch Powers, Past President
Laura Ballock
Benjamin Baxter
Brandy Blige Adams
Amy Gutting
William Haws
Directors Emeriti
Lynda Beam
Dale Thorpe
Suzanne Williams
Shem Kendrick
Drew Ruttinger
Jody Trumbull
Marjorie Young
Phillip Zellner
Staff
Zoe Rinker
Kathryn Erickson
Kelsey Kirpich
Kristopher Johnston
Matthew White
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.
6:00 Cocktails
7:15 Welcome Remarks
Matthew Hallett, President
7:30 Dinner Buffet Opens
8:15 2024 Tree Champion Award
Presented to Audrey Platt
Zoe Rinker, Executive Director
9:00 Silent Auction Closes
Thank you to our 2024 Event Committee
Kim Bockius-Suwyn, Co-Chair
Christiana Turner, Co-Chair
Ashleigh Aiello
Kristen Baird
Bill Kelso
Patti King
Jess Mikell
Annie Rockwell
Audrey Platt
Savannah Tree Foundation is proud to honor longtime supporter and community leader Audrey Platt as the 2024 Tree Champion. Audrey has led decades-long efforts to protect and restore Forsyth Park as well as other green spaces throughout Savannah. Her work with the Trustees Garden Club and as a member of the Park and Tree Commission have made a tangible difference in the downtown fabric of our beloved city.
Spanning from the Forsyth Fragrance Garden to the Catholic Cemetery to her own backyard, Audrey has planted and preserved trees and gardens that will benefit future generations. Thanks to her advocacy and vision, locals and visitors alike will continue enjoying the natural beauty of Savannah.
Click below to watch a brief video about Audrey’s work to protect and beautify Savannah’s green spaces.
2023-2024 Season
The 2024 Green Gala marks the end to a game-changing year for Savannah Tree Foundation!
Thanks to support from our community partners and a $1 million four-year grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission, the organization has doubled in size since last spring, with a goal 8 full-time staff by June 2024.
The additional staff members will support two new programs, the Chatham Canopy Corps and the Community Tree Nursery. Both programs will debut this summer.
Even with all these changes and growth, we had a very successful 2024-2025 planting season, giving away 1,100 trees and planting 339 trees across a record 22 sites in Chatham County.
That’s nearly 1,500 new trees for our region!
Thank you to all the donors, community partners, volunteers, and corporate sponsors who helped make the season a success!
And a special thank you to Gulfstream Aerospace, our Georgia Arbor Month and Magnolia Event Sponsor
