14
| January/February 2016
For several Davey employees, the Tour des Trees represents an annual opportunity
to explore new terrain, pursue a fitness challenge and connect with long-distance
friends and acquaintances – all for a good cause.
Other Davey employees have just recently joined the Tour des Trees community
of riders, fundraisers and tree care industry supporters.
In late October, the Tour des Trees – a weeklong, 500-mile cycling tour – led
cyclists from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While tree plantings and
community engagement activities accompany the cyclists' efforts to complete
the tour, the funds raised help support education programs aimed at connecting
young people with the environment and green industry opportunities. The money
raised also supports efforts to help build awareness in the communities the tour
visits of the importance of trees to the quality of urban life and the value of
science-based professional tree care.
Most importantly, the ride supports the TREE Fund, which uses the funds raised
to support scientific research, education programs and scholarships related to
arboriculture and urban forestry.
Last year, Davey's Don Roppolo and his wife, Cindy; Ward Peterson and his wife,
Susan; Laurie Skul; Tom Wolf; retiree Beth Buchanan and her sister, Melanie
Sherrod, joined the company's official team for the tour. All employees involved felt
motivated to participate and ultimately support the tree care industry in which they
work,.
"It's moving to participate in the tour because of the cause," Roppolo says.
"I've met some great people because of it."
Beth Buchanan (bottom right) enjoys the Tour
des Trees route alongside other participants.
Fellow rider Ward Peterson says Buchanan
"did an amazing job leading the Ohio Team
and fundraising."
INSPIRED TO RIDE
NOTES
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