We hope you’ve circled the last Friday in April on your calendar — it’s National Arbor Day! It’s one of the best days of the year to get outside and enjoy the many benefits of nature. We celebrate all month long, and this year is particularly special. This month, the Arbor Day Foundation is also commemorating the 50th anniversary of our iconic Tree City USA® program.
Though the program was started in 1976, Tree City USA and its mission to grow greener cities are more relevant than ever. Right now, towns and cities are facing increasing challenges related to air quality, public health, and environmental resilience. In communities big and small, trees are a key part of building strength and fostering good health. And although we may be rooted in different corners of the country, we are all working in unison to create positive change through trees. In this issue, we say thank you to the tireless tree planters — from the city leaders involved in Tree City USA to members like you. Your passion and commitment to a greener future is incredibly powerful, and we’re grateful you continue to plant alongside us in this journey.
DAN
TELL US ABOUT A TREE YOU LOVE
Every April, Arbor Day reminds us that trees have the power to connect us — to one another, to our communities, and to the planet we share.
We’ve planted more than half a billion trees over the last 50+ years and have received thousands of stories and photos from the people who love them. These stories matter. They spark connection, curiosity, and show the next generation what it looks like to care for something bigger than ourselves.
This Arbor Day season, we’re building on that legacy by assembling the world’s largest collection of tree stories and are on a mission to plant 1 million new trees in communities.
Everyone has a tree story. Maybe it’s the oak that shaded your childhood backyard. Or the redbud on your street that signals the start of spring every year. Maybe it’s a tree you planted to remember someone special, or one that simply brings you peace on your evening walk.
Trees are woven into the fabric of our lives. They mark our milestones, stand witness to our growth, and connect us across generations. Sharing those stories is how we celebrate not just the trees we plant, but the roots we share.
So this Arbor Day season, whether you’re planting a new tree or reflecting on one that’s already part of your life, we invite you to be part of something bigger. Tell us about your tree story — where it started, what it means, and how it continues to grow. Together, we can plant 1 million new trees and collect the stories that keep growing a more connected, resilient, and beautiful future for us all.
Share your story at arborday.org/share-my-story
A LEGACY ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
From
small towns to major cities, volunteers and leaders have spent 50 years bringing the Tree City USA vision to life. These images highlight the everyday actions that have shaped stronger, greener communities.
Fifty years ago, a small but mighty idea took root: empower communities of every size to grow stronger, healthier, and more connected through trees. Created through a joint effort between the Arbor Day Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters, Tree City USA was built on a shared belief that caring for trees is essential to caring for people. In 1976, 42 communities across 16 states joined the very first class — and a national movement was born.
What started as a simple recognition program has become one of America’s most enduring commitments to green, livable cities. For half a century, the Tree City USA program has helped towns and cities demonstrate their dedication to thoughtful community forestry. From Sibley, North Dakota, to New York City, the message has always been the same: people deserve a place enriched by trees, and trees deserve people who care.
GROWING TOGETHER
The program’s growth tells a remarkable story of shared effort and long-term vision. By 1993, less than 15 years after its founding, Tree City USA had expanded to all 50 states. Today, over 3,500 communities proudly carry the Tree City USA designation, touching every corner of the country and representing places big and small.
Nearly half of Americans (48%) now live in a recognized Tree City. That reach reflects more than just a growing list of participants; it reflects a cultural shift. Cities nationwide are recognizing that trees aren’t simply aesthetic amenities. They’re essential infrastructure that cool neighborhoods, strengthen local ecosystems, boost community pride, and improve quality of life.
And the impact goes far beyond numbers. Each year, Tree City USA communities collectively plant more than 991,000 trees and log more than 1 million volunteer hours — a testament to how deeply residents care for the places they call home.
WHAT TREE CITY USA MAKES POSSIBLE
Every community that joins the program embraces four foundational standards: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual expenditure on community tree care, and an Arbor Day observance. These standards don’t just check boxes; they create consistent, long-term practices that anchor a city’s commitment for decades to come.
Communities often tell us that becoming a Tree City USA does more than earn a sign at the city limits. It builds belonging. It sparks volunteerism. It inspires new leaders. It connects them to a national network of peers who share ideas, insight, and encouragement. Most of all, it reminds residents that caring for trees is something everyone can be part of, together.
A NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY, A LOCAL CELEBRATION
As we mark the 50th anniversary of Tree City USA, we celebrate not just the cities themselves, but the people who have kept this movement thriving: state foresters who guide communities, the volunteers who plant, the urban foresters who plan, the leaders who champion this work, and the neighbors who show up year after year.
Because when people care for trees, communities grow stronger. And for the last 50 years, Tree City USA communities have been proving that truth every single day.
Learn more about the Tree City USA program at arborday.org/50-years
FROM OUR MEMBERS with Love and Trees
For more than 50 years, our members have shared a deep love for trees and the impact they’ve had on their lives, families, and communities. Since our founding in 1972, supporters have mailed in stories, photographs, and handwritten notes that capture these quiet connections in the most heartfelt ways. As we look back through the archives, we’re revisiting a few treasured stories that continue to remind us why this work matters. Share your story at arborday.org/share-my-story.
SYRACUSE, NY
POSTMARKED 2008
As a long-time member of the Arbor Day Foundation, I want to express my gratitude for the efforts of your organization to promote and defend trees on our planet. I have enclosed a picture of a magnolia x soulangeana I purchased from you in 2001 and planted as a tribute and living memorial to my mother. This is one of several memorial trees purchased from the Arbor Day Foundation and planted in memory of deceased family members and friends. It is lovely to be reminded of my loved ones by growing, thriving trees.
MARGARET AND BILL JONES
KENNETT SQUARE, PA
POSTMARKED 2005
We moved too often before our Arbor Day trees reached “picture-taking” size. I have revisited several of our former homes, and those trees are growing well. The enclosed photo was taken in Johnson City, TN, in about 1995. The Tree Board of the City sponsored a planting of 30 trees in a new city park. Each participant bought and planted a tree available from the Tree Board — my husband and I planted a Yellowwood tree in honor of our golden wedding anniversary.
GLEN COVE, NY
POSTMARKED 2004
This sourwood tree was planted in the spring of 2000 by my son and husband, both Jims. At the time, I had a mastectomy and was undergoing chemotherapy. At 12 inches tall, it didn’t look like much, but it became my ray of hope. As my Jimmy-Jim tree grew, so I would grow better. I am again undergoing chemotherapy and looking to my Jimmy-Jim tree to help me live again as it inspired me to do in the past.
MAUREEN OGDEN
MARGARET PLEWS
TIPS
PLANT. NURTURE.
CELEBRATE. REPEAT.
Strong communities don’t just happen — they grow. As Arbor Day approaches, it’s a reminder that the Foundation’s mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees is more than a motto; it’s a roadmap for lasting impact.
PLANT
Planting trees is a commitment to the future. Identify a public space in need of shade or green space and make it a community effort. Invite local organizations, businesses, and volunteers to join in and watch how planting together strengthens community roots.
NURTURE
Planting is just the beginning. In 2026, deepen your community’s engagement by partnering with local organizations or schools to spread awareness about the value of trees, working with tree care experts to build a green workforce, and integrating trees into city planning for a more resilient future.
CELEBRATE
Bring your community together to mark the 50th anniversary of Tree City USA and America’s 250th anniversary. An Arbor Day event, service project, or commemorative tree planting is a simple way to honor the past while investing in the future.
Ready to dig deeper? Find everything you need to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees at our Tree Resource library: arborday.org/tree-library.
THE FUTURE IS COUNTING ON YOU
We all have a role to play in shaping a greener future. One with thriving neighborhood tree canopy, vibrant forest ecosystems, and a healthier planet for future generations. This is a future that’s going to take all of us doing everything we can.
Here’s your moment to make an impact that will last well beyond your lifetime. With help from the Arbor Day Foundation, you can leave a legacy through trees.
To learn more about gift planning, go to arborday.org/planning or scan the QR code.
For questions, contact Erin Mousel, our Gift Planning Officer, at 888-448-7337, ext. 9614 or emousel@arborday.org.
You may also fill out and mail the form below.
I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON:
l Including the Arbor Day Foundation in my will
l Charitable gift annuities
l Tax-free IRA distributions
l Gifting stock
l Other gifting options
Name Address
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Phone Number
Best time to call Mail
SUGAR MAPLE
Acer saccharum
Beloved for its brilliant fall color and iconic sap, the sugar maple is one of North America’s most treasured hardwoods. This classic tree is known for its strength, beauty, and the unmistakable sweetness it brings to forests and communities alike.
Reaching 60 to 75 feet tall with a rounded, dense crown, the sugar maple shines in parks, spacious yards, and naturalized landscapes. Its leaves burst into fiery shades of red, orange, and gold each autumn. Beyond its beauty, the sugar maple supports wildlife with seeds, nesting sites, and dependable shelter throughout the seasons.
Resilient and cold-hardy, sugar maples thrive in well-drained, slightly acidic soils and full sun to partial shade. Hardy in zones 3 through 8, they’re a lasting addition to any landscape — offering shade, habitat, and the timeless charm that has made them a staple of forests for generations.
To purchase or learn more about this tree and others, visit arborday.org/sugar-maple or scan this QR code.
We guarantee delivery of healthy trees to our members. Please check ordering deadlines and shipping dates at arborday.org/shipping. If you need to contact us about your trees, call 888-448-7337, email us at info@arborday.org, or drop us a note at
Lincoln, NE 68508. We want your tree planting efforts to be successful!
