STF Annual Report 2020

ANNUAL REPORT

MISSION

VISION

A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND CHANGE...

2020 was not the year we expected. The global pandemic forced Savannah Tree Foundation to cut short our planting and outreach activities, close our office, and cancel our annual fundraiser. However, like many crises, this one came with silver linings.

During the lockdown, we rolled out our first rebranding in 38 years, began producing educational videos for social media, and launched a monthly webinar series. With our new avenues of engagement, we are able to reach more of our community than ever!

Financially, despite cancelling Fall Frolic, our supporters stepped up in a big way and allowed us to continue our work protecting and growing Chatham County’s urban forest. I would also like to commend past and present Board members for the creation and stewardship of our investment portfolio. While much of that account remains untouched, we were able to rely on those funds at the most uncertain points of the year. Investment proceeds, in addition to federal assistance programs and the insurance payout from our March 2019 office fire, provided the bump we needed to end the year in the black.

Not only did Savannah Tree Foundation weather the COVID storm, I am happy to report that we have come out a stronger organization on the other side. Thank you for your support during this difficult year and beyond. Together, we’ll grow the future.

Zoe Rinker Executive Director

Savannah Tree Foundation protects and preserves Chatham County’s urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy.

To inspire and educate our community to create and sustain a healthy urban forest today, tomorrow, and forever

IMPACTS

In 2020, Savannah Tree Foundation planted 167 trees across 18 sites. We distributed an additional 650 trees to our community through giveaways and sales. More than 500 volunteers participated in our projects, and we engaged more than 30 community partner organizations through in-person and online events. We created and shared 57 educational videos across social media, increasing online engagement by 3x . And we debuted the 1st major rebranding of Savannah Tree Foundation since its founding in 1982.

2020 BY THE NUMBERS

FINANCIALS

Savannah Tree Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit, tax identification number 57-1494721. Our full 990 tax form is available upon request.

COOL SCHOOLS

January-March 2020

Savannah Tree Foundation’s Cool Schools program seeks to connect students to nature and educate them about the importance of trees in their community. School grounds are ideal sites to grow Chatham County’s urban forest from the ground up. Trees can improve physical fitness, attention span, outdoor education, and public health. Through this program, we aim to bring trees and their numerous benefits to students at school sites currently lacking tree canopy.

While the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from continuing this program in Fall 2020, we were able to plant 80 trees across 7 schools before the shutdown occured. Over 300 students helped us plant these trees and benefited from our lessons on tree biology.

Chatham Academy

Jacob G. Smith Elementary Johnson High School

Rice Creek School

West Chatham Elementary West Chatham Middle School Woodville Tompkins High School

GEORGIA ARBOR DAY

February 2020

Before a global pandemic stopped in-person events, Savannah Tree Foundation hosted our first annual Georgia Arbor Day Block Party, in partnership with Green Truck Pub. Through this celebration of trees, our community came together to enjoy arboreal activities. Several local organizations joined the celebration, including the Lowcountry Turners, COR Compost, Hunter Cattle Company, Forsyth Farmers’ Market, and the Savannah Derby Devils. Hundreds of supporters of all ages enjoyed the fun and food, and Savannah Tree Foundation was able raise both funds and friends through this delightful day.

A joint endeavor with Savannah State University (SSU), the Marsh Protection Promenade project created a .13 acre berm protecting the marsh adjacent to Williamson Creek on SSU’s campus. The project included the creation of a bioswale and the planting of 10 trees to mitigate stormwater intrusion into the marsh.

The project also created the beginning of a marsh-front walking trail to help encourage healthy habits and a connection to nature in SSU’s students and staff.

Overall, this project is a prime example of how Savannah Tree Foundation can partner with local organizations to tackle complex issues, using trees to help better our community.

TREE TALKS September-December 2020

In an effort to bring educational programming to the public while also keeping people safe during COVID-19 regulations, Savannah Tree Foundation developed a new online webinar series in September 2020, sponsored by Georgia Power. In the monthly “Tree Talks” series, we bring together local experts to talk about our local trees, with topics ranging from urban wood reutilization to local fruit trees.

Response has been very positive. In addition to constituents joining live, we record the webinars and upload them to our YouTube channel for future viewing. Our four webinars in 2020 have been viewed by over 250 people to date.

Given its success, we continued this series into Spring 2021 and plan to continue it through Summer 2021 and beyond. Our 2020 webinars included:

2020 Canopy Assessment (Jake Henry, Savannah Tree Foundation)

Explore the Coastal Canopy (Robert Cuilty, SavATree Savannah) Longleaf Pine and the Fire Forest (Randy Tate, Longleaf Alliance) Urban Wood (Mae Bowley, Re:Purpose Savannah)

STATE OF THE TREES Summer 2020

In the early 1990s, Savannah Tree Foundation was the first non-profit organization in the nation to use satellite imagery to document canopy changes in an urban area. For the first time in 2020, the Foundation was able to perform this assessment in-house, saving the organization thousands of dollars and allowing us to keep annual records of canopy change. This year’s assesment revealed the following key takeaways:

Chatham County has gained “vegetation” quantity, but has lost quality canopy. This is due to the removal of mature trees. While younger trees are being planted, their impact on our canopy is less than that of a mature tree.

The impact of a municipality not having or not enforcing a tree ordinance can be seen in the areas of highest loss across the County.

Large-scale clear cutting associated with industrial construction is having the most noticeable impact on our tree canopy.

Georgia Power

Mark & Patt Suwyn

Sonny & Dale Thorpe

Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation

The Hunter Foundation Anonymous

Dale & Lila Critz

Eleanor Rhangos & Dan Bromstad

Patricia McLeod

Lynda Beam Don Callahan

Kim Bockius-Suwyn & Dan Suwyn H. Mitchell & Polly Dunn

Steve & Carter Eagle

J.C. Lewis Foundation

Angus & Leslie Littlejohn

McKenna Foundation

Audrey Platt

Maura Sovchen Annie Rockwell

Benjamin Baxter

Bell-Barnett Family Fund

Barbara & Charlie Cortese

Dolores Engle

Jeffrey & Bonnie Gentes

Beth & Scott Glass

Karen Black Jenkins

Jolly Foundation

John G. Kennedy Foundation

Chris & Nita Ann Klein

David & Gail Knopf

Ron Melander

Seeds & Weeds Garden Club

Cathy & Philip Solomons

The Tornroos Family Suzanne Williams

The Landings Garden Club

Maynett & David Breithaupt Deborah & Asa Davis

Elizabeth Dubose & Mark Frissell

Reed & Meredith Dulany

Gregory & Ana Freiwald Russell Fries

Janette & David Long Ruth McMullin

Samuel & Kim Murray Susannah Pedigo Zachary Thomas Anna & Wiley Wasden

Rinker Executive Director

Haley Gary Office Administrator

Henry

Zoe

Front cover image by Savannah Aerials

Photography by John Alexander and Bunny Ware