Presidio party raises nearly $800k for redwood forests and 'O Rew Redwoods Gateway
As the fog rolled in over San Francisco, nearly 300 guests arrived at the Presidio dressed in fabulous shiny puffers and handknit beanies—a fashionable nod to their shared love for the outdoors. They had come for Save the Redwoods League’s annual redwoods celebration, “Take Me to the Trees,” which brings the redwoods community together to celebrate their collective stewardship and raise funds for the forest.
Inside a historic airplane hangar, the atmosphere was spirited and glampy. Guests were invited to visit the camp store, adorn a wishing tree with their favorite redwoods memories, and capture the fun in a photo booth filled with silly props. Maribel Garcia, founder of Decolonized Kitchen, crafted delicious redwood bites and shared her cookbook From Forest To Plate, which provides recipes and Indigenous wisdom highlighting native redwood plants and steps to decolonize our relationship with food. Fogbelt Brewery added the perfect finishing touch with a unique beer infused with redwood tips.
Griff Griffith, Redwoods Rising TikTok star and the host of Animal Planet’s Wild Jobs, kept everyone on their toes as master of ceremonies. And the night concluded in sparkles and style as the crowd hit the dance floor to the sounds of Super Diamond.
Raising auction paddles to support the ‘O Rew project
Generous community members raised their paddles high to raise an impressive $790,000 towards protecting and restoring California’s redwood forests and connecting all people to their peace and glory. The night’s fundraising highlighted ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway, a groundbreaking project between partners Save the Redwoods League, the Yurok Tribe, California State Parks, and the National Park Service. This initiative will transfer ownership of the ‘O Rew property to the Yurok Tribe and eventually establish a new Indigenous-owned gateway to Redwood National and State Parks.
The significance of this project, especially for the Yurok people, was conveyed in a moving speech by Francisco Saavedra, Redwoods Rising apprentice and proud member of the Pit River Tribe Madesi Band with Yurok and Salvadoran ancestry. Saavedra spoke poignantly about the importance of centering Indigenous-led conservation as we confront historical injustices and work to heal those wrongs while healing the redwood forests. We extend our gratitude to Saavedra for inspiring an outstanding fund-a-need effort, which raised an impressive $290,000 towards ‘O Rew.
Podcast guests among the “village” of supporters
“Take Me to the Trees” marked a momentous occasion for the League’s I’ll Go If You Go podcast, as several guests connected in person for the first time. Now in its fourth season, the podcast has played a pivotal role in expanding our League community, amplifying diverse voices, and spotlighting emerging leaders in redwood conservation. Be sure to explore the latest season, focused on careers in the redwoods, including insightful episodes with Francisco Saavedra and José Juan Rodriguez, both of whom lent their support to this year’s event.
This year’s event reminds us that it takes a village to deliver impact-driven conservation. From our supporters and partner agencies to our board and council, staff, and emerging leaders—none of this work would be possible without collaboration. A big thank-you to our presenting sponsor and partner, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria; sponsors Humboldt Distillery and Fogbelt Brewing Company; and this year’s event co-chairs, Mindy Whittington, Kelly Tarapani, and Rich Wendling for their hard work in creating an unforgettable celebration.
Thank you to everyone for making the 2024 “Take Me To The Trees” a night to remember!
