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40 for 40 Challenge  |  Kickoff Plantings  | Root Ball  |  Community Open House

Trees Atlanta is celebrating a fabulous milestone in 2025 — our 40th year of community forestry! Since planting our first tree in 1985, we’ve kept growing. Throughout this year, we will put a spotlight on what’s been most important to us in the past four decades and what we look forward to in the decades ahead.

This milestone is a heartfelt thank you to the people who have been with us every step of the way. Together, we’ve grown more than just trees; we’ve nurtured connections, inspired change, and built a greener, healthier future for everyone.

This celebration is for you, the heart of our mission. You — our community of volunteers, partners, and supporters — have sustained four decades of making a difference together. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your community, and we look forward to celebrating with you this year.

We hope you join us for these upcoming events marking our 40th Year. Of course, there will be some 40th year swag too! In particular, we’re pretty excited about the “40 for 40” Challenge for volunteers. Take a look!

Celebrate With Us

“40 for 40” Challenge

Get ready for the “40 for 40” Volunteer Hours Challenge! Throughout 2025, all volunteer projects will count toward this exciting challenge. Volunteers who hit 40 hours will earn the honor of becoming a Green Shirt and receive a limited-edition 40th Anniversary Trees Atlanta bucket hat! Make sure to get your hours in by December 1 and pick up your bucket hat at our Volunteer Holiday Party on December 6.

Update: 56 Rock Star volunteers have already achieved their 40 hours and earned their limited edition 40th Anniversary Trees Atlanta bucket hats. How many more volunteer hours do you need before you get yours?

Look up your volunteer hours: Volunteer Profile

40th Anniversary Kickoff Projects & Tree Giveaway

Saturday, Jan. 25

Join us for a special 40th Anniversary celebratory tree planting! We’ll be planting trees in both Peoplestown and Oakland City. Be a part of four decades of volunteers caring for Atlanta’s urban forest.

Plus, all volunteers who register and complete this project will take home a special edition 40th Anniversary Trees Atlanta T-Shirt!

After the project, join us at our headquarters for lunch and free tree giveaway to continue growing Atlanta’s canopy. Registration is required to participate in the tree giveaway. Trees will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis to registered attendees.

Root Ball 2024

Thursday, May 1

We can’t wait to continue celebrating 40 years of Trees Atlanta with you! Join us for a night to remember at a beautiful new venue. All funds raised will plant and save more trees right here in Atlanta!

Guests at Root Ball will enjoy delicious appetizers, food and dessert stations, open bar, live entertainment, and a silent auction. You will also take home a party gift, cheerful photo booth prints, and great memories with old friends and new. Online bidding for the silent auction will open a week before Root Ball. Learn more

Become a Patron

As a Patron, you will enjoy the Root Ball knowing that your tax-deductible donation will contribute to growing and protecting Atlanta’s urban forest while also receiving Patron Benefits. Patron support is incredibly important to meet ever-increasing tree planting, conservation, and education needs in communities across metro Atlanta. View Patron Benefits

Four Decades of Stories

What’s your Trees Atlanta story? Whether you planted your first tree with us decades ago, met your partner during a volunteer event, or simply have a favorite memory of your time with us, we’d love to hear your story this spring.

📸  Then & Now: Revisit your first or favorite Trees Atlanta volunteer spot, snap a photo of how it’s grown (or how you’ve grown), and share it on social media. Include your story and tag us (@treesatlanta) with #TreesAtlanta40Years to inspire others.

💌  Share Your Memories: Have a special story? Send us your photos and memories to be featured in a special blog post highlighting our shared history. As a thank you, participants will receive a Trees Atlanta 40th Anniversary sticker.

✨  Submit a Story: Trees Atlanta is teaming up with The Story Collider and Atlanta Science Festival to bring you a special show with true, personal stories all about TREES! Tell your best tree story. The Story Collider provides coaching for storytellers so that presenters shine! Submit your nomination form by January 26.

Remarkable Trees

As you explore Atlanta, keep an eye out for signs on some of the most significant trees we’ve planted over the last 40 years. These signs share the stories behind trees and the impact they’ve had on our community.

Forward Forty Community Open House

Saturday, September 13  |  12 – 3pm

The Kendeda TreeHouse will be open to the public for a fun afternoon with music, treats, and activities that celebrate looking FORWARD to a more sustainable future and honor the legacy of our 40 years of service.

Volunteer Holiday Party

December

This annual celebration for our volunteers will have an extra special addition this year: a celebration for our “40 for 40” Challenge winners. Volunteers who complete 40 or more hours will receive a limited edition 40th Anniversary bucket hat. And we’ll still have our Annual Cookie Bake-Off, of course!

We hope you’ll join us at these events as we celebrate four decades of growing, learning, and giving back to Atlanta’s urban forest. We can’t wait for the next 40!

Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter to stay up-to-date with all our upcoming events.

A special thank you to Stranded Design for helping us celebrate our 40th Anniversary in style with a fabulous design.

Posted: Jan. 7, 2025