TreePeople Star-Studded Gala Raises $705,000 for Climate Action

LOS ANGELES (October 11, 2017) – THE EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE got the privilege of attending the Tree People Gala.
The headquarters of the tree people are up at the top of Mullholand Dr. and it is surrounded by trees
making it the ideal setting for the event. This is a benefit that effects everyone in Los Angeles because
the TreePeople are very active in the planting process which makes for a better Los Angeles.
They served a delicious dinner with a great vegetarian option. Everyone was in a great mood and there
was nice entertainment when dining. We walked the grounds on a full moon and it was beautiful.
We look forward to attending again next year.

TreePeople, held its 30th annual fundraiser, An Evening Under the Harvest Moon, at its 45-acre headquarters in Coldwater Canyon Park. The event raised $705,000 to support the organization’s mission for LA to have adequate, equitable tree canopy and a safe, local water supply to protect Angelenos from heat, flooding and other climate impacts.

This year, the event had a strong presence from Hollywood with Harry Hamlin and his spouse, Lisa Rinna leading the evening as the gala’s emcees.

Harry Hamlin and his spouse, Lisa Rinna (Photo courtesy of TreePeople)

Ed Begley, Jr. and his wife Rachelle Carson also joined the stage to host a Q&A discussion with TreePeople Founder & President, Andy Lipkis and Evergreen Award for Visionary Leadership awardee, Macerich Chairman and CEO, Art Coppola. Coppola was recognized by TreePeople for his long-term vision to have zero energy waste, near zero emissions, zero water waste and zero landfill impact at Macerich’s malls.

TreePeople Founder & President, Andy Lipkis and Evergreen Award for Visionary Leadership awardee, Macerich Chairman and CEO, Art Coppola (Photo courtesy of TreePeople)

“Our supporters see the value and urgency when they invest in TreePeople. It is more critical than ever to combat climate change, and TreePeople is on the frontlines,” TreePeople Founder and President, Andy Lipkis said.

Other VIPS attendees included: Leonardo DiCaprio’s mother, Irmelin Indenbirken; White Famous and The Mindy Project actor, Utkarsh Ambudkar; Charmed and Pretty Little Liars actress, Holly Marie Combs; Queer as Folk actor, Hal Sparks; Preacher actress, Julie Ann Emery and others.

The event also honored TreePeople’s Environmental Education Department with the Community Partnership Award for:

Inspiring and educating more than 10,000 kids a year on TreePeople park Eco-tours
Reaching 250,000 LA County school children a year through the Los Angeles County Public Works’ Generation Earth program
Engaging 200 schools a year through youth-led TreePeople EcoClubs and Community Green Teams

Longtime volunteer, and Purple Heart veteran, Merrill Koss was honored with the Barbara Goldenberg Award for Volunteer Service. Koss started volunteering with TreePeople in November 2014, after discovering one of the organization’s flyers in one of his favorite places to hike: Coldwater Canyon Park.

“For the last three years, it’s been a privilege to work with TreePeople. They have become my second family,” Koss said.

Generous support of the evening include leading event sponsors: Westfield, Marilyn Ziering, Herbert Simon Family Foundation, KC Financier Group, Johnny Carson Family Foundation, Macerich, Southern California Gas, The Walt Disney Company, and Ira Ziering & Godeleine DeRosamel

ABOUT TREEPEOPLE

TreePeople unites the power of trees, people and nature-based solutions to grow a healthy, green city in the face of climate change’s increasing impacts. The organization inspires, engages and supports people to take responsibility for the urban environment, facilitates collaboration among government agencies, and promotes leadership in volunteers, students and communities. Together, we are growing a greener, shadier, healthier and more water-secure Los Angeles for present and future generations. For more information, visit treepeople.org.