Arboretum annual appeal matching challenge deadline extended!

Dr. Eric Conn (pictured left) has seen how his contributions have made a difference at the Arboretum. Now he's hoping his gift inspires you to make a difference too. Give a gift to the Friends annual appeal, or make a tribute dedication in the Arboretum, and he'll match your gift dollar-for-dollar, up to a total match of $30,000! What an easy way to make a greater impact with your giving. Plus we've extended the deadline for this special matching challenge to February 15, so everyone has a chance to participate.

Why does the Arboretum need to ask for support in addition to memberships? The University provides basic support for the Arboretum each year but it's not even enough to fund staffing and care of the existing garden collections. Over 50% of the Arboretum’s annual budget must come from other community sources such as individual donations, grants, and other gifts. Given the fiscal realities of the University budget, community support for the Arboretum is more critical than ever.

So, please consider these two ways to give this year. Both qualify for Dr. Conn's matching challenge.

Annual Appeal: If you love the Arboretum we ask you to give generously to the Friends annual appeal, above and beyond annual membership dues. You should have received a letter from the Friends in late November about this year's appeal. Annual appeal contributions help fund the Arboretum in all areas of operations, everything from maintaining and enhancing the gardens to putting on public education programs for children and adults.

Tribute Dedications: Many visitors ask how they can make a gift with lasting value to the Arboretum that also honors a loved one. There are several dedication options currently available. These range from unique Art-Science Fusion tiles and plaques in the Shields Oak Grove to hardwood benches in beautiful areas of the Arboretum. In addition to honoring a special person or event in your life, these gifts help us maintain the Arboretum for the enjoyment of everyone who uses them.

To everyone who has recently made a gift, we extend our sincere thanks for your support this year. If you have questions about the annual appeal, tribute gift options or would like to make a gift, please contact Suzanne Ullensvang at (530) 752-8324 or sullensvang@ucdavis.edu.

Dr. Eric Conn offers UC Davis Arboretum first annual appeal matching challenge

Dr. Eric Conn, a longtime Arboretum supporter and namesake of our Acacia Grove, has offered to enhance our annual appeal with a challenge pledge, enabling our members and supporters the opportunity to double their donations to our yearly campaign. We are incredibly thankful to him and hope that you'll take this special opportunity to double the impact of your support for the Arboretum.

Give a gift to the Friends annual appeal, or make a tribute dedication in the Arboretum, and he'll match your gift dollar-for-dollar, up to a total match of $30,000! What an easy way to make a greater impact with your giving. Your gift of any amount will help support the Arboretum's innovative programs and outstanding gardens that touch the lives of people just like you.

If you are interested in making a year-end gift for 2012 tax purposes, gifts by check must be postmarked on or before December 31, 2012. Or you may make a year-end donation by credit card through December 31,2012 via UC Davis’ secure website. Log on to http://giving.ucdavis.edu (click on “make a gift now” and select “Arboretum Enhancement Fund” under gift designation).

If you have additional questions about making a contribution, please contact Suzanne Ullensvang at (530) 752-8324 or sullensvang@ucdavis.edu.

Arboretum jewelry now available at UC Davis Store downtown!

UC Davis Campus Grown, an initiative whose mission is to transform unused assets into retail products designed to support and promote university programs and sustainability goals, has recently launched the Arboretum Collection.

The UC Davis Arboretum holds one of the largest collections of oaks in the United States, including 128 native valley oaks (Quercus lobata) whose majestic, twisted limbs form the backbone of the Arboretum’s plant collections. To commemorate the Arboretum’s signature tree, Nancy Shapiro—metalsmith, jewelry designer and co-president of the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum—created the pins and pendants in the UC Davis Campus Grown “Arboretum Collection” from the leaf of an Arboretum-grown tree. Each piece is crafted using the lost wax technique and cast from fair-trade silver.

The “Arboretum Collection” currently includes two types of jewelry—a silver valley oak leaf pin ($42) and a silver valley oak leaf pendant ($48). (Price includes eco-friendly packaging materials.) Supplies for this premiere launch are limited and currently sold exclusively at the UC Davis Store Downtown. Should they sell out, store staff will be taking names and notifying interested customers of new shipments set to arrive in plenty of time before the holiday season.

For more information, visit the UC Davis Campus Grown website here.

Retail sales location:
UC Davis Store Downtown
630 Second Street
Davis, CA 95616
Tel: 530-297-4450

Purchases of products in the UC Davis Campus Grown “Arboretum Collection” support the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum whose donations sustain the Arboretum’s innovative education programs and provide for the care, maintenance and growth of the inspiring plant collections.

The UC Davis Store Downtown is also the exclusive retail sales location for UC Davis Campus Grown Salvaged Wood. Discover more about this line of products here.