For Immediate Release
Héctor González, Communications Strategy Manager, TreeFolks
Email: hector@treefolks.org | office: 512-575-2870 | cell: 512-903-4253
Austin, TX – November 3rd, 2025 – This Texas Arbor Day, TreeFolks celebrated a milestone nearly 30 years in the making: the adoption of the 100,000th free tree through its NeighborWoods program.
For decades, TreeFolks has helped Central Texans bring shade, beauty, and cleaner air to their neighborhoods. Through NeighborWoods, residents receive free trees to plant in their yards, helping make Austin cooler and greener, one home at a time. The 100,000th tree marks not just a number, but the collective care of thousands of neighbors who have grown a healthier city together.
“Each tree we give away carries a story,” said Andrew Smiley, Executive Director of TreeFolks. “Together, those stories add up to something incredible: 100,000 living reminders that when we care for our community, we also care for the planet. These trees will grow to shade homes, clean our air, and make Central Texas more resilient for generations.”
The NeighborWoods program, a partnership between TreeFolks, Austin Energy, and the City of Austin, has distributed free trees since 2002 to help reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and strengthen neighborhoods. The program prioritizes areas where additional shade can lead to improved health outcomes, lower energy bills, and increased comfort for residents.
From the very first sapling to the 100,000th tree, TreeFolks’ mission has remained the same: empowering Central Texans to plant and care for trees where they live, work, and play. Each adopted tree represents a commitment not only from TreeFolks but from the people who water, nurture, and grow them into a forest for everyone’s benefit.
As TreeFolks celebrates this milestone, the organization looks toward the future by planting the next 100,000 trees, deepening partnerships, and inspiring even more neighbors to join in protecting Austin’s urban forest. Get more involved
How to Get Involved
TreeFolks invites individuals to adopt a free tree this season at our events or through our Home Delivery Program, available at treefolks.org/neighborwoods.
About TreeFolks
TreeFolks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Central Texans to plant and care for trees through community engagement, education, and reforestation. With over 35 years of experience, TreeFolks has restored thousands of acres of urban and rural forests, helping to combat climate change and improve the region’s ecological health.
The NeighborWoods program is a partnership with the City of Austin and Austin Energy.
