2009 STIHL Tour des Trees Cycling Event Raises $373,543 for Tree Research

NAPERVILLE, Ill., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 70 cyclists in the 2009 STIHL Tour des Trees planted trees along a 500-mile route beginning in New York City's Central Park and winding across the Northeast. Riders from across the world have so far raised a total of $373,543 during this year's tour, July 19-25, to benefit the Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund. Donations are accepted through August 15. Cyclists of all ages and abilities rode with the mission to raise money for tree research and to help the public understand the importance of proper tree care in maintaining the health of our community forests and urban trees.

"Though we are making progress everyday with tree research, it is important now more than ever to continue on our mission," said Janet Bornancin, TREE Fund executive director. "Many studies have proved the positive effects trees have on our communities. With the money raised from events such as the Tour, we will continue to research and study ways to help maintain the trees we currently have and properly plant new ones as well."

The STIHL Tour des Trees is America's largest fundraising event to improve the care of trees through research and education. Since its inception in 1992, the Tour has generated more than $4.4 million and has funded a host of diverse projects such as post-Katrina research on the impact of hurricane flooding on mature trees.

TREE Fund title sponsor, STIHL, has sponsored the Tour des Trees for nine years. "We are proud to again partner with the TREE Fund for such a great cause," said Roger Phelps promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. "Caring for nature is at the heart of what we do, and many of our products are designed to help people maintain healthy trees. The work that TREE Fund and organizations like it do is vital to our environment and we appreciate all they do."

"We don't inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our children," said Rolling Stones keyboardist and noted environmentalist Chuck Leavell at the STIHL Tour des Trees opening ceremony. "The work done by the cyclists this week on the STIHL Tour des Trees to benefit the TREE Fund's research will affect generations of trees, and people, for many years to come."

The tour started July 19 in New York City's Central Park with a tree climbing demonstration, educational workshops including power tool safety, mulching, tree planting and pruning, and appearances by garden expert and TODAY show garden contributor P. Allen Smith. The day ended 65 miles later in Mt. Kisco, NY; and, from there, the riders traveled through Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and ended in Providence, RI on July 25th at the International Society of Arboriculture Tree Climbing Championship in Roger Williams Park.

The sponsors of the 2009 event include title sponsor STIHL Inc., crown sponsor National Grid, partners Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Duke Energy, Bartlett Tree Experts and Northeast STIHL, and platinum sponsor The Davey Tree Expert Co.

Donations to support the STIHL Tour des Trees will be accepted through August 15. For more information, visit www.stihltourdestrees.org .

About the TREE Fund:

The TREE Fund's mission is to identify and fund projects and programs that advance knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees, and the environment.

The TREE Fund has supported research that has led to important developments in:

• Understanding air pollution reduction and carbon sequestration by trees
• Quantifying the costs and benefits of urban trees
• Improving conditions for tree growth in difficult sites
• Strategies to manage diseases and pests that afflict urban trees
  

About STIHL Inc.

STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast -- not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer, call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.

STIHL is also pleased to support the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), National FFA, Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), and the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD).

SOURCE STIHL