NEWS RELEASE: Amid heightened social distancing, Trust looks for new ways to engage supporters and maintain donations to care for DC's famous blooms.
Amid heightened social distancing, Trust looks for new ways to engage supporters and maintain donations to care for DC's famous blooms.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 14, 2020 – With closures, cancellations and uncertainty throughout the Nation's Capital, one thing remains constant this year: Washington, D.C.’s beloved cherry trees will blossom this spring as they have for more than 100 years – a reminder of the coming of spring and the emergence from a long, dark winter. However, with the National Cherry Blossom Festival cancelled, and the blooms ready to peak earlier than expected, this year’s blooms may receive significantly fewer than the 1.5 million visitors that usually descend on the Tidal Basin. This will have a detrimental effect on the anticipated donations for the cherry trees.
The Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, has long relied on visitors to the Festival to raise awareness and donations for its Cherry Tree Endowment, a critical and long-term maintenance fund to protect and support the cherry trees and their year-round needs.With fewer visitors expected to see the blooming cherry trees in person this year, the Trust and their partners are working to ensure people have other ways to connect with and support the cherry trees. Like other organizations, the Trust for the National Mall is working to assess the full potential impact due to COVID-19 and adjust plans.
“Many have come to rely on the Festival as a beautiful celebration of the start of spring. We are heartbroken that won’t be possible for people to come down and celebrate because of the important precautions taking place,” said Catherine Townsend, President & CEO of the Trust for the National Mall. “Now, we are shifting our approach to engage visitors virtually – both to celebrate the blossoms and to allow blossom fans to donate to the Endow a Tree Campaign to ensure their long-term care.”
So, the Trust for the National Mall, a public-private partnership that brings important resources to the National Mall – wants people to know that you can still get involved and help #ProtectTheBlooms🌸 - wherever you are and whenever you’d like.
The Trust has embarked on a $3.7-million-dollar fundraising campaign to build an endowment for the 3,700 cherry trees on the National Mall. The Trust’s Cherry Tree Endowment is critically needed to support this iconic part of the National Mall because it will provide optimal care and maintenance for these beloved natural treasures year-around to ensure protection and enjoyment of them for generations to come.
HOW THE ‘ENDOW A TREE’ CAMPAIGN WORKS:
Through the Trust’s ‘Endow a Tree Campaign,’ you can help raise critical funds to provide the care and maintenance needed to protect these special cherry trees.· Cherry trees can be endowed for $1,000 - individually, as a company, in honor of someone or as a team.· Join the movement through crowd funding, team or organizational challenges – as a great way to connect with people and work towards a shared purpose.· For each $1,000 donated, donors will receive a certificate with a number representing the number of endowed trees so far.Link to campaign: https://www.nationalmall.org/cherrytreeendowment
BACKGROUND ON THE TREES:
· The National Park Service receives a set budget every year to cover a large list of priorities so NPS looks to the Trust to augment areas of need by mobilizing individuals for private contributions.· About 90 cherry trees need to be replaced each year.· The average lifespan of a cherry tree varies based on species, climate and care and is on average 40-50 years.· Only a handful of the original cherry trees planted in 1912 are still on the grounds today, which is remarkable.· These cherry trees are delicate and must survive in a unique climate and highly visited environment.· Keeping them healthy and blooming well requires year-round maintenance for optimal health and longevity, but current funds only allow for limited maintenance.
SUPPORT THE BLOOMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
If you can’t get to the blooms – then #BloomWhereUR🌸. Use this hashtag, share a photo of your special memory among D.C.’s cherry blossoms on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and let us know what this special site means to you. Did you get engaged there or take pictures with your friends, family or pet?We want to know about it and celebrate the many happy memories, milestones and moments that have unfolded through the years at this special site.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
The National Park Service (NPS) can talk about timing of the blooms, status of the trees and the change to this normally bustling tourism site.
Catherine Townsend President/CEO of the Trust for the National Mall can talk about why it’s so critical to focus on protecting this national treasure by raising funds to fully care for, manage and replace the cherry trees.
NPS arborists are available to talk about steps being taken to protect this national treasure, including new mulching techniques, what’s in the mulch and why a moisture and barrier/shield is an important alternative to fencing, which they are looking to avoid. They can also talk about their off-site nursery where replacement trees are growing.
ABOUT THE TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL
The Trust for the National Mall is the leading nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, dedicated to enriching the visitor's experience and preserving the historic legacy of the National Mall, home to the history, heroes and hope of America. With 36 million annual visits, the National Mall is one of the most visited parks in the world. With increasing visitors and aging infrastructure, over $600 million is needed in backlog repairs – the largest amount of any national park in the country – and over $200 million in modernized upgrades. Recognizing that Congress cannot alone adequately support the needed improvements to our beloved national treasure, the Trust is dedicated to raising the necessary funds and awareness to accelerate modern and resilient solutions.More information about the Trust and our projects, please visit www.nationalmall.org.
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Media Contacts:
Laura Evans Manatos
Laura@LauraEvansMedia.com
301-379-6028
Jennifer Davis
jenniferdavisdc@gmail.com
703-946-9343