| November 2008 - Newtown Tree Project Back to News Index |
Whispers in the Forest
Newtown Forest Association
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
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The Newtown Forest Association for many years has been the associated with the Newtown Tree Project, however that fact was not widely known.
The Newtown Tree Project has been around for over 20 years. It has funded the purchase over 42,000 tree saplings to students in the Newtown
public and private elementary schools to plant and care for. The Newtown Tree Project has also provided funding to conduct deep root fertilization
of the spectacular sugar maples on main street, contributed to the Dickenson Park stream bank restoration and provided the saplings that were
handed out at the Labor Day Parade a few years ago.
The projects conducted by the Newtown Tree Project clearly cross over and compliment the NFA’s mission. That said, if not for the generosity of one
family and several volunteers in Newtown, the projects sponsored by the Newtown Tree Project would not likely have ever happened. The NFA has
proudly been the recipient of Newtown Tree Project donor-restricted contributions over many years. These are donations that can only be used for
these purposes.
The donor has done this over the years for no personnel benefit and does so with a passion for conservation and preservation and to educate our
youth. Providing young students trees helps to teach children a great variety of life lessons. The students learn the important role trees play from
cleaning the air and help minimize the effects of global warming, providing shelter to animals and providing raw materials for building of homes. In
addition, the children learn to plant and care for something and watch it develop over many years and gain a greater appreciation of the natural
world that surrounds them.
Passing on these lessons to each generation is invaluable in a world that would prefer to throw something away rather than to conserve or recycle
and something that, until recently, wasn't really ever taught in school.
In the fall of 2008 the donor provided a permanently restricted contribution of $50,000 to create an endowment fund (hereinafter referred to as the
NTP School Fund); the earnings of which will be used to fund the future Newtown Tree Project elementary school tree planting program. The initial
donation will be invested consistent with the NFA’s investment policies to preserve the principle while maximizing the investment return through
taking minimal risk. Sound fiscal planning to consider future inflation will require that a portion of the annual NTP Fund earnings will be reinvested.
The NFA would love to see the NTP Fund grow to provide additional revenues to expand the programs in the future. If you are interested in making
a donation specifically to the NTP School Fund, or Newtown Tree Project programs, please include a comment noting your intentions. Donations
can take the form of cash or investment securities.
This is an incredible program and Pam Fagan, Science Teacher from Middle Gate School, will oversee the elementary school tree program. One
letter received last year from a family with 4 children which has received 14 trees over the past several years, noted 11 are still alive and thriving.
Other students have written “the Tree Lady”, as the donor has been so named, “I really think this is a great way of helping the environment” and “I’m
hoping it teaches me to become more responsible.”
Newtown and the NFA is proud of what this donor has started and the legacy gift to fund the future of the elementary school tree planting program.
More information will soon be available at the NFA’s website and we can be contacted with any questions at NTPFund@newtownforestassociation.
org.
How tall is your tree? Let us know
The Newtown Tree Project has been around for over 20 years. It has funded the purchase over 42,000 tree saplings to students in the Newtown
public and private elementary schools to plant and care for. The Newtown Tree Project has also provided funding to conduct deep root fertilization
of the spectacular sugar maples on main street, contributed to the Dickenson Park stream bank restoration and provided the saplings that were
handed out at the Labor Day Parade a few years ago.
The projects conducted by the Newtown Tree Project clearly cross over and compliment the NFA’s mission. That said, if not for the generosity of one
family and several volunteers in Newtown, the projects sponsored by the Newtown Tree Project would not likely have ever happened. The NFA has
proudly been the recipient of Newtown Tree Project donor-restricted contributions over many years. These are donations that can only be used for
these purposes.
The donor has done this over the years for no personnel benefit and does so with a passion for conservation and preservation and to educate our
youth. Providing young students trees helps to teach children a great variety of life lessons. The students learn the important role trees play from
cleaning the air and help minimize the effects of global warming, providing shelter to animals and providing raw materials for building of homes. In
addition, the children learn to plant and care for something and watch it develop over many years and gain a greater appreciation of the natural
world that surrounds them.
Passing on these lessons to each generation is invaluable in a world that would prefer to throw something away rather than to conserve or recycle
and something that, until recently, wasn't really ever taught in school.
In the fall of 2008 the donor provided a permanently restricted contribution of $50,000 to create an endowment fund (hereinafter referred to as the
NTP School Fund); the earnings of which will be used to fund the future Newtown Tree Project elementary school tree planting program. The initial
donation will be invested consistent with the NFA’s investment policies to preserve the principle while maximizing the investment return through
taking minimal risk. Sound fiscal planning to consider future inflation will require that a portion of the annual NTP Fund earnings will be reinvested.
The NFA would love to see the NTP Fund grow to provide additional revenues to expand the programs in the future. If you are interested in making
a donation specifically to the NTP School Fund, or Newtown Tree Project programs, please include a comment noting your intentions. Donations
can take the form of cash or investment securities.
This is an incredible program and Pam Fagan, Science Teacher from Middle Gate School, will oversee the elementary school tree program. One
letter received last year from a family with 4 children which has received 14 trees over the past several years, noted 11 are still alive and thriving.
Other students have written “the Tree Lady”, as the donor has been so named, “I really think this is a great way of helping the environment” and “I’m
hoping it teaches me to become more responsible.”
Newtown and the NFA is proud of what this donor has started and the legacy gift to fund the future of the elementary school tree planting program.
More information will soon be available at the NFA’s website and we can be contacted with any questions at NTPFund@newtownforestassociation.
org.
How tall is your tree? Let us know