In April and May, 2000, 41 television stations with a viewing audience of over 500,000 aired a public service announcement (PSA) describing Eagle Eye Institute's "Trees Are My Friends": a campaign designed to educate and engage people of color and other urban residents in caring for urban street trees scores. The event was a huge success in Massachusetts. Scores of organizations and events were publicized, and hundreds of urban people got involved with trees via the Internet and by calling our hotline.

The heart of the campaign is a PSA that depicts people of color sharing their concerns about and involvement with urban trees. Funded by the USDA Forest Service, the PSA is will be linked to a toll-free number as of April, 2001 (877-202-8833 ) and a web site (see www.treesaremyfriends.org), which provide information about events as well as interactive information about caring for urban trees.

At Eagle Eye Institute we are currently planning our national campaign, which will coincide with Earth Day and Arbor Day, 2001. But we can't do it alone! We need organizations and agencies around the country to partner with us as "champions" of the campaign.