On October 30, actress, activist and entrepreneur Victoria Principal joined nonprofit TreePeople and the U.S. Forest Service to announce a $25,000 gift to support TreePeople’s fire restoration efforts in the Angeles National Forest.
Victoria Principal’s gift kicks off a fundraising goal of $250,000 to help restore the Angeles National Forest following the 2009 Station fires that burned 144,000 acres, the largest fire in Los Angeles County history. The announcement took place at TreePeople’s headquarters in Coldwater Canyon Park, Los Angeles.
“I am grateful for the long relationship I’ve had with TreePeople,” said Victoria Principal. “Because of this enduring collaboration, I am confident that the funds I’m providing will be used for thoughtful restoration, to benefit the earth, and to support my California neighbors.”
Victoria Principal joined Jody Noiron, U.S. Forest Supervisor for the Angeles National Forest, and TreePeople founder Andy Lipkis to transplant Jeffrey pine tree seedlings originating from the devastated Angeles National Forest.
“We’re grateful to Victoria Principal for her foresight and generosity in stepping forward with leadership funds to help launch TreePeople’s restoration of the Angeles National Forest after the recent fires,” said TreePeople Founder and President Andy Lipkis. “We are very excited that this lead gift will inspire others, and will enable us, together with the U.S. Forest Service, to engage thousands of volunteers to revitalize the forest so it can be healthy for generations to come and provide critical water supply, air protection, habitat and recreation.”
Victoria Principal’s donation supports TreePeople’s partnering with the U.S. Forest service to restore the fire-damaged Angeles National Forest as part of Forest Aid. Forest Aid was created after Southern California’s 2007 and 2003 wildfires where 185,000 acres burned in the San Bernardino National Forest. The partnership includes the U.S. Forest Service, the San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA) and TreePeople. Forest Aid is funded by generous grants from The Walt Disney Company and The Boeing Company.
For more than 20 years Victoria Principal has been one of the most generous individual donors to TreePeople’s wildfire recovery efforts. Her commitment to urban parks and national forests is a model for other Hollywood philanthropists to follow. She provided funds for the restoration plan for Griffith Park after the 2007 fire and individually funded the restoration of Dante’s Peak. Over the years Ms. Principal has been an activist for fire restoration, water conservation, clean air and clean oceans in California. Victoria Principal’s Angeles Forest donation will be used for tree and native species planting, invasive species removal, and community outreach and education.
TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit that unites the power of trees, people and technology to grow a sustainable future for Los Angeles. More information at www.treepeople.org or www.forestaid.net.
Source: Tree People
