• Focus Event


• Spotlight


• Grant


• Register


• Photo Contest

FOCUS EVENT
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson Celebrates NeighborWoods Month
(October 13) Mayor Bart Peterson will meet with local and national executives this Saturday to discuss urban forestry, and its role in creating a better environment for Indianapolis. Executive Director Alice Ewen from the Alliance for Community Trees (College Park, MD), David Forsell, President, Keep Indianiapolis Beautiful, Inc.; and Indy Parks Director Joe Wynns will meet, then tour Barton Bark, located on the city’s  near north side, where volunteers will be planting 120 large, native trees. The planting is one of 11 projects taking place in Indianapolis to celebrate National NeighborWoods Month.

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful was recently awarded a grant from The Home Depot Foundation from a competitive group of cities nationwide that are staging tree planting campaigns. "KIB's NeighborWoods Program is an exemplary model of partnership between the city, the business community, civic organizations, and residents all working together toward an ambitious and inspiring goal," said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. Since 2005, The Home Depot Foundation has dedicated $1.5 million in assistance to support NeighborWoods programs in cities across the US, working in partnership with the national nonprofit organization Alliance for Community Trees.

REV UP YOUR WEBSITE
New Electronic Outreach Tools
UC Green, Baton Rouge Green, and Trees Forever are sporting new colorful NeighborWoods Month banners and ribbons. The web tools are fun, friendly, and easy to fit into your existing outreach materials. Download yours today.  Let your volunteers and members know that your work ties into a nationwide effort to restore city forests to improve quality of life for all.

PUMP UP YOUR PRESS
Mini-Grants Bump Up Visibility
With a $500 mini-grant from ACT, Heartland Tree Alliance was able to hire a professional photographer to take high quality photos to document their October volunteer projects. These photos can be re-used in annual reports, membership brochures, and funding proposals to support a polished image for this new Kansas City urban forestry initiative. Toolbelts, t-shirts, posters and other event tools available from ACT helped generate excitement for their growing program.

REGISTER YOUR EVENTS
Join the Campaign!
Make sure your city is part of the national event calendar that publicizes ACT members during October. ACT has already sent out 114 press advisories in support of 200 member events this month. Want to let the world know what you're up to in your city this month? Register your event now.

SEND YOUR SNAPS
Win $500
This year, we're looking for the best of the best images that celebrate a spirit of volunteerism and stewardship for trees. Send us your inspiring, surprising, or amusing photos and we'll feature your images at the ACT Annual Meeting and Member Rally on Nov 13 in Baltimore. Top winning photographers will receive a $500 Home Depot gift card.