Meet Our Members: Anne and Major Cohen
MAY/JUNE 2022
As a former Starbucks coffee education leader, Major Cohen is a coffee enthusiast through and through. He even combined his love of coffee with his educational background and authored a book on the subject, Coffee for Dummies.
Impact Update: GivingTuesday
I
Major’s introduction to coffee was as a child in the 1950s. Dipping into her stash of “special coffee,” his mother would use a pour-over brewer. The result was lifelong memories filled with unmatched aromas and flavor.
The Power of One Day
During his early days at Starbucks, he met Anne Schaefer. Anne is a talented chef, but her passion for the environment and trees was what they quickly bonded over. Major said, “I’ve always appreciated the outdoors and trees, but not nearly as much as I did when I met Anne.”
Anne has made the gift even more meaningful by incorporating the Trees in Celebration certificates in handmade books as wedding presents. Each carefully crafted book highlights the importance of trees and uniquely celebrates each couple’s union through tree planting in honor of their special day.
50134301
Arbor Day Foundation
•
Photo Credit: Victoria Kaiser
A few years later, when looking for a home in Seattle, they saw one with a majestic tree in the front yard that towered over the neighborhood. Anne didn’t need to see the house behind the tree; she was sold. They still live there today.
Anne and Major shared that they enjoy supporting the Arbor Day Foundation through the Trees in Celebration program saying, “It links to what we believe in. That is why the commemorative program is so important to us — because it shows the recipients we care about them while bringing them into the fold of what is so important to us.”
ndividually, we can all make a difference for our planet. But it’s when we work together that the real magic happens.
Such was the case with GivingTuesday, which took place on November 30 of last year. On that day, through a new matching campaign and enthusiastic donor support, the Arbor Day Foundation was able to raise enough funds to plant 464,440 trees for forests across the United States — more than doubling its original goal.
After 20 years of teaching photography, Major decided to turn his passion into a career and joined the coffee world as a Starbucks barista in the early 90s. With his background in education, he quickly moved into a training role that eventually took him around the world.
Their love of the environment and the importance of trees intersected with the coffee industry’s realization of the importance of sustainable agroforestry to the future of coffee. It became a huge part of the training program during Major’s career, further solidifying the importance of trees for the industry and humanity. Thankfully, that training and mindset still carry on and have become a permanent part of the culture.
Nearly half a million trees planted by members, supporters
Major and Anne Cohen pose with their dog in front of their prized evergreen tree, a symbol of the legacy they hope carries on for generations. The importance of trees and inspiring others continues to be a center point of Anne’s and Major’s lives. When asked how their philanthropy reflects their lives and values, it was clear this is something they haven’t just thought about, they’ve lived. “Because we don’t have any kids, and we know we are able to be philanthropic to some degree, the legacy is tied to the things we’ve been passionate about in our life like the Arbor Day Foundation and the link to trees. We understand that once you are gone, you are gone. But if you can leave a piece of yourself, not so people will know your name, but so that the work you believed in would carry on, then that’s the best you can do.”
211 N. 12th St.
•
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
GivingTuesday was established in 2012 to encourage people worldwide to support charitable causes they care about. It serves as a powerful annual fundraiser for nonprofits nationwide, with 35 million participants and $2.7 billion donated in 2021 alone. “This extraordinary show of generosity lit up the world against a backdrop of a dark two years. From every corner of the globe, there were countless amazing stories of kindness, connection, and community,” said Asha Curran, co-founder and CEO of GivingTuesday, in a press release. The Arbor Day Foundation’s record-setting donation campaign was one of those stories. It allowed supporters to double their usual impact — every dollar they donated planted a tree, and that tree was matched by other generous donors. The Foundation’s original goal for Giving Tuesday was to plant 200,000 trees. But thanks to the incredible generosity from supporters like you, we will plant nearly half a million trees in response to this day of giving! Over the next 40 years, these trees are estimated to: • Filter 26,519,524 gallons of stormwater • Sequester 619,739 metric tons of carbon • Absorb 1,788 tons of air pollution What an incredible impact! It’s never been easier to donate to plant trees and make a difference, and we are so grateful for our dedicated supporters who made this a reality.
You can find more ways to plant trees — with a shovel or without — at arborday.org/takeaction.
PLANTING TREES, PROTECTING ECOSYSTEMS Reforestation efforts support some of Earth’s most vital species Ecosystems around the globe are facing alarming challenges, and trees are one piece of the solution — especially when it comes to supporting keystone species. As the name suggests, keystone species are organisms that play a key role in and have a disproportionate impact on their surrounding ecosystems. Without these species, entire ecosystems could collapse. The Arbor Day Foundation is committed to supporting these ecosystem-critical species through tree planting initiatives. The following are examples of the keystone species supported and protected through the Foundation’s reforestation efforts.
2
AMERICAN BEAVER
PACIFIC SALMON
GOPHER TORTOISE
CAVE-ROOSTING BATS
Often seen as the enemy of trees, beavers serve as critical ecosystem engineers. As they build their homes and dams across rivers, they create impoundments and wetland areas, which are then used by trout, otters, birds, and bugs. It is important that newly planted seedlings be protected from over-eager beavers so that the trees can grow to help reduce runoff and, eventually, serve as shelter for the animal. Beavers can be found across North America, ranging from the northernmost portions of Mexico to the Arctic tundra. Reforestation efforts along the Willamette River in Oregon and Otter Creek in Vermont will help provide clean water and habitat for this keystone species.
Pacific salmon are a well-traveled keystone species upon which 137 other species rely. From rivers to the ocean, salmon keep insect populations in check and serve as important prey for bears, wolves, migratory birds, and even orcas. Beyond this, salmon have an intimate and symbiotic relationship with their surrounding forests — the forest helps reduce runoff and provides shade to important freshwater breeding grounds and, at the end of a salmon’s life, it provides valuable nutrients back to the forest. Unfortunately, salmon species have been in drastic decline due to deforestation, industrialization, flood control measures, and pollution. Reforestation within the Columbia River Basin in Oregon supports the future of this salmon population.
These gentle and unassuming creatures are so important that the state of Florida celebrates Gopher Tortoise Day each year on April 10. More than 350 other species rely on gopher tortoise burrows to survive, and the tortoises rely on welldrained, sandy soils found in habitats like longleaf pine sandhills. The reforestation of millions of longleaf pines across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina — the gopher tortoise’s natural range — is an ongoing project supported through the Foundation. Restoring this fragmented habitat is critical to ensuring the success of this threatened species.
Cave-roosting bats are also a keystone species — bat guano is often considered the basis of a cave’s food chain. Forests protect cave entrances, important resting places for the federally endangered Indiana bat, and provide important foraging and maternal roosting habitat in the summer. Reforestation efforts in Indiana near the Ohio River are aimed at creating and improving important habitat for bats. The site will also be protected as a nature preserve.
A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • M ay / J u n e 2 0 2 2
MANGROVES Like the gopher tortoise, mangroves have their own holiday — International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on July 26. Mangroves are sometimes referred to as the “roots of the sea.” Their root system creates a unique habitat upon which many other species rely — both above and below the water — including lizards, snakes, nesting birds, fish, and marine mammals. For creatures further onshore, mangroves help stabilize shorelines, protect areas from flooding, and stop excess sediment from reaching the ocean. Mangroves can be found all around the globe, and mangrove restoration has recently been a focus in Haiti, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
The very existence of keystone species highlights the interconnected nature of our world. Reforestation work dedicated to supporting these species is critical to ensuring healthy forests, healthy ecosystems, and a healthy planet.
A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • M ay / J u n e 2 0 2 2
3
PLANTING TREES, PROTECTING ECOSYSTEMS Reforestation efforts support some of Earth’s most vital species Ecosystems around the globe are facing alarming challenges, and trees are one piece of the solution — especially when it comes to supporting keystone species. As the name suggests, keystone species are organisms that play a key role in and have a disproportionate impact on their surrounding ecosystems. Without these species, entire ecosystems could collapse. The Arbor Day Foundation is committed to supporting these ecosystem-critical species through tree planting initiatives. The following are examples of the keystone species supported and protected through the Foundation’s reforestation efforts.
2
AMERICAN BEAVER
PACIFIC SALMON
GOPHER TORTOISE
CAVE-ROOSTING BATS
Often seen as the enemy of trees, beavers serve as critical ecosystem engineers. As they build their homes and dams across rivers, they create impoundments and wetland areas, which are then used by trout, otters, birds, and bugs. It is important that newly planted seedlings be protected from over-eager beavers so that the trees can grow to help reduce runoff and, eventually, serve as shelter for the animal. Beavers can be found across North America, ranging from the northernmost portions of Mexico to the Arctic tundra. Reforestation efforts along the Willamette River in Oregon and Otter Creek in Vermont will help provide clean water and habitat for this keystone species.
Pacific salmon are a well-traveled keystone species upon which 137 other species rely. From rivers to the ocean, salmon keep insect populations in check and serve as important prey for bears, wolves, migratory birds, and even orcas. Beyond this, salmon have an intimate and symbiotic relationship with their surrounding forests — the forest helps reduce runoff and provides shade to important freshwater breeding grounds and, at the end of a salmon’s life, it provides valuable nutrients back to the forest. Unfortunately, salmon species have been in drastic decline due to deforestation, industrialization, flood control measures, and pollution. Reforestation within the Columbia River Basin in Oregon supports the future of this salmon population.
These gentle and unassuming creatures are so important that the state of Florida celebrates Gopher Tortoise Day each year on April 10. More than 350 other species rely on gopher tortoise burrows to survive, and the tortoises rely on welldrained, sandy soils found in habitats like longleaf pine sandhills. The reforestation of millions of longleaf pines across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina — the gopher tortoise’s natural range — is an ongoing project supported through the Foundation. Restoring this fragmented habitat is critical to ensuring the success of this threatened species.
Cave-roosting bats are also a keystone species — bat guano is often considered the basis of a cave’s food chain. Forests protect cave entrances, important resting places for the federally endangered Indiana bat, and provide important foraging and maternal roosting habitat in the summer. Reforestation efforts in Indiana near the Ohio River are aimed at creating and improving important habitat for bats. The site will also be protected as a nature preserve.
A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • M ay / J u n e 2 0 2 2
MANGROVES Like the gopher tortoise, mangroves have their own holiday — International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on July 26. Mangroves are sometimes referred to as the “roots of the sea.” Their root system creates a unique habitat upon which many other species rely — both above and below the water — including lizards, snakes, nesting birds, fish, and marine mammals. For creatures further onshore, mangroves help stabilize shorelines, protect areas from flooding, and stop excess sediment from reaching the ocean. Mangroves can be found all around the globe, and mangrove restoration has recently been a focus in Haiti, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
The very existence of keystone species highlights the interconnected nature of our world. Reforestation work dedicated to supporting these species is critical to ensuring healthy forests, healthy ecosystems, and a healthy planet.
A r b o r D ay F o u n d at i o n O a k S o c i e t y I n s i g h t s • M ay / J u n e 2 0 2 2
3
Meet Our Members: Anne and Major Cohen
MAY/JUNE 2022
As a former Starbucks coffee education leader, Major Cohen is a coffee enthusiast through and through. He even combined his love of coffee with his educational background and authored a book on the subject, Coffee for Dummies.
Impact Update: GivingTuesday
I
Major’s introduction to coffee was as a child in the 1950s. Dipping into her stash of “special coffee,” his mother would use a pour-over brewer. The result was lifelong memories filled with unmatched aromas and flavor.
The Power of One Day
During his early days at Starbucks, he met Anne Schaefer. Anne is a talented chef, but her passion for the environment and trees was what they quickly bonded over. Major said, “I’ve always appreciated the outdoors and trees, but not nearly as much as I did when I met Anne.”
Anne has made the gift even more meaningful by incorporating the Trees in Celebration certificates in handmade books as wedding presents. Each carefully crafted book highlights the importance of trees and uniquely celebrates each couple’s union through tree planting in honor of their special day.
50134301
Arbor Day Foundation
•
Photo Credit: Victoria Kaiser
A few years later, when looking for a home in Seattle, they saw one with a majestic tree in the front yard that towered over the neighborhood. Anne didn’t need to see the house behind the tree; she was sold. They still live there today.
Anne and Major shared that they enjoy supporting the Arbor Day Foundation through the Trees in Celebration program saying, “It links to what we believe in. That is why the commemorative program is so important to us — because it shows the recipients we care about them while bringing them into the fold of what is so important to us.”
ndividually, we can all make a difference for our planet. But it’s when we work together that the real magic happens.
Such was the case with GivingTuesday, which took place on November 30 of last year. On that day, through a new matching campaign and enthusiastic donor support, the Arbor Day Foundation was able to raise enough funds to plant 464,440 trees for forests across the United States — more than doubling its original goal.
After 20 years of teaching photography, Major decided to turn his passion into a career and joined the coffee world as a Starbucks barista in the early 90s. With his background in education, he quickly moved into a training role that eventually took him around the world.
Their love of the environment and the importance of trees intersected with the coffee industry’s realization of the importance of sustainable agroforestry to the future of coffee. It became a huge part of the training program during Major’s career, further solidifying the importance of trees for the industry and humanity. Thankfully, that training and mindset still carry on and have become a permanent part of the culture.
Nearly half a million trees planted by members, supporters
Major and Anne Cohen pose with their dog in front of their prized evergreen tree, a symbol of the legacy they hope carries on for generations. The importance of trees and inspiring others continues to be a center point of Anne’s and Major’s lives. When asked how their philanthropy reflects their lives and values, it was clear this is something they haven’t just thought about, they’ve lived. “Because we don’t have any kids, and we know we are able to be philanthropic to some degree, the legacy is tied to the things we’ve been passionate about in our life like the Arbor Day Foundation and the link to trees. We understand that once you are gone, you are gone. But if you can leave a piece of yourself, not so people will know your name, but so that the work you believed in would carry on, then that’s the best you can do.”
211 N. 12th St.
•
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
GivingTuesday was established in 2012 to encourage people worldwide to support charitable causes they care about. It serves as a powerful annual fundraiser for nonprofits nationwide, with 35 million participants and $2.7 billion donated in 2021 alone. “This extraordinary show of generosity lit up the world against a backdrop of a dark two years. From every corner of the globe, there were countless amazing stories of kindness, connection, and community,” said Asha Curran, co-founder and CEO of GivingTuesday, in a press release. The Arbor Day Foundation’s record-setting donation campaign was one of those stories. It allowed supporters to double their usual impact — every dollar they donated planted a tree, and that tree was matched by other generous donors. The Foundation’s original goal for Giving Tuesday was to plant 200,000 trees. But thanks to the incredible generosity from supporters like you, we will plant nearly half a million trees in response to this day of giving! Over the next 40 years, these trees are estimated to: • Filter 26,519,524 gallons of stormwater • Sequester 619,739 metric tons of carbon • Absorb 1,788 tons of air pollution What an incredible impact! It’s never been easier to donate to plant trees and make a difference, and we are so grateful for our dedicated supporters who made this a reality.
You can find more ways to plant trees — with a shovel or without — at arborday.org/takeaction.