TreeFolks Received High Impact Grant To Help Along Banks Of Blanco River

Impact Austin Awards $94,000 to TreeFolks To Restore Flood-Ravaged Forest Along Banks Of Blanco River

AUSTIN, TEXAS – TreeFolks has been named a 2016 Impact Austin Community Partner and recipient of its Environment Area Focus grant in the amount of $94,000. Impact Austin’s Environment Focus Area grant works to improve, enhance or restore the surroundings and promote conservation of natural resources in the Greater Austin area. Impact Austin is one of the largest women’s philanthropy organizations in the United States and selected TreeFolks from more than 90 applicants.

With the Impact Austin grant, TreeFolks will plant trees to restore riparian forest on more than 61 miles of damaged riverside in Hays County devastated by the 2015 floods. Many homeowners lost shelter and possessions and need assistance replanting their lands. Impact Austin funding will provide landowner consultation and planting of 385,000 trees on 800 acres along the Blanco River. The project will improve the ecosystem and provide healthy growth for future protection against flood damage.

“On behalf of our members, we are proud to award TreeFolks with a 2016 Focus Area Program grant,” says Donna Benson-Chan, executive director, Impact Austin. “Its commitment to environmental restoration after the 2015 floods will affect future generations of Central Texans.”

Impact Austin is a local charity comprised of 426 women seeking to transform lives in the Greater Austin area through high-impact and lifelong giving. Its only membership requirements are to be female and donate $1,250 each year. Impact Austin combines the annual donations from members and awards large grants each year to local worthy causes selected by its members. Grant applications are accepted in each of the following areas: culture, environment, education, family, and health and wellness.

“We are thrilled to be named as a Community Partner with Impact Austin,” said TreeFolks Executive Director Thaïs Perkins. “This award will support reforestation of the Blanco River and benefit families who were affected by the 2015 Memorial Day floods. We thank Impact Austin for this generous gift to support TreeFolks’ work.”

About TreeFolks:

TreeFolks empowers Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees.  Since 1989, TreeFolks has engaged thousands of volunteers to plant more than 1.6 million trees on public and private lands. These trees provide clean air and water, habitat for wildlife, and shelter from the hot Texas sun. Through volunteerism, participants deepen their connection to their environment and the Central Texas community.