Mill Creek Greenway Freedom Trees: Charitable Donations
Donations to the Mill Creek Freedom Trees Program will reap multiple short- and long-term benefits, celebrating the rich cultural history of the Underground Railroad and those who fought for freedom, supporting the educational programs of Mill Creek Restoration Project and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and creating a living legacy for future generations by restoring the health and beauty of Mill Creek. All donations are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Mill Creek Freedom Trees Giving Card Please mail to MCRP, 1617 Elmore Court, Cincinnati, OH 45223.
The Freedom Trees program is completely voluntary. MCRP will work collaboratively with other public/private partners to raise cash and recruit volunteers to plant Freedom Trees wherever property owners want to participate in the Mill Creek watershed. Anyone can get involved – individuals, families, schools, businesses, industries, corporations, developers, homebuilders, foundations, local governments, park and recreation boards, church groups, and civic and conservation organizations.
This is a highly flexible charitable program, with opportunities for donors and volunteers to get engaged at many different levels. For example, individuals may donate a tree as a holiday or birthday gift; families may make memorial contributions in remembrance of loved ones; industries can elect to plant Freedom Trees on their own property along the river; local governments can plant Freedom Trees to enhance landscaping at park and recreational facilities; and neighborhood/civic groups can provide volunteer labor and assist with fundraising to benefit the Freedom Tree program and their own organizations.
All donors will receive a signed Freedom Trees certificate acknowledging their gifts and informing them where their trees are planted. Major donors (100 trees or more) will be acknowledged on permanent signage where their trees are located.
The cost for a Freedom Tree is $75, with 10 trees for $750 and 100 trees for $7,500. Paul Hemmer/Sand Run Nursery will donate a tree for every five trees that are planted. Freedom Tree donations will cover the following expenses for the program:
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Identifying planting sites and securing property owner permission.
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Conducting due diligence to ensure planting sites are appropriate and completing property surveys.
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Tilling compacted soils, removing junk/debris and eradicating invasive species.
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Preparing landscape plans, applying topsoil/fertilizers and digging holes for trees.
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Recruiting and training volunteers.
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Marketing the program to raise needed cash and to secure inkind contributions.
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Growing and planting native trees and grasses in spring and fall each year.
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Mulching around trees and maintaining them for one year.*
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Designing/installing educational signage about the Underground Railroad and Mill Creek connections.
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Integrating Mill Creek cultural and natural history into environmental education programs sponsored by the Freedom Center, MCRP and other organizations.
* For $4.50 more per tree per year, Sand Run Nursery will maintain Freedom Trees for an additional two-year period, ensuring that the trees and native grasses are healthy and permanently established.
