About
Us
The City of Trees Foundation was founded in 2023 by Sam Bloom, a visionary with a passion for trees and community empowerment.
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City of Trees Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that embodies environmental justice; we seek to mitigate climate change through sustainable economic development. We plant trees to sequester carbon, lower cooling costs, and beautify neighborhoods across California.
To bolster our efforts in underserved communities, it is important to give opportunities to underemployed individuals. We work with people who have experienced homelessness or were formerly incarcerated.
Our Board
Sam Bloom
City of Trees Foundation founder and CEO Sam Bloom has planted over 500,000 trees while working in the forestry industry in British Columbia, Canada. All of these trees will someday be logged and harvested. Sam realized he wanted to make a lasting impact in the California communities he grew up in, thus the City of Trees Foundation was born.
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After receiving a Masters degree from the University of Chicago, Sam returned to Sacramento with a dedication to positive change. Sam hopes to rupture institutional barriers by engaging with underemployed and marginalized community members to create lasting impacts in underrepresented and underserved communities.
Isaac Van Etten
Isaac Van Etten serves as the Chief Financial Officer of The City of Trees Foundation, bringing financial expertise to the organization's mission. With a strong background in accounting and business, Isaac manages the foundation's financial operations, ensuring its long-term sustainability.
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Isaac's combined expertise and commitment make him an invaluable asset to the City of Trees Foundation as they work towards a more sustainable California.
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Lauren Ward
Lauren grew up in the Bay Area and moved to Sacramento as a young adult. She pursued her dream to become a doula and worked alongside health experts and mothers until she became a cofounder of her business Botany Farms. Lauren brings an entrepreneurial spirit and expertise to the board of City of Trees Foundation. She is committed to making a social impact in Sacramento through sustainable economic development.
Alex Nakashima
Alex was born and raised in Sacramento, and has always been fascinated by the nature surrounding the city. After moving to San Francisco for school, he realized that the lack of trees in the urban environment was an important factor in his daily life.
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He moved back to his hometown to finish his degree in Economics from the California State University Sacramento and began working in the agricultural industry. Alex continues to contribute to the $51.3 billion agriculture sector in the Central Valley.
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Dylan Glines
Born and raised in Sacramento, Dylan pursued his education in Utah but eventually found his way back to his hometown. Along with Lauren Ward, he created Botany Farms, a thriving business that began as a dream. Dylan's success is a testament to hard work, determination, and creativity. He brings a bounty of knowledge and expertise on the infrastructure of startups to the City of Trees Foundation.