Dispatch from the SSC Team
We love when organizations find the link between the environment and society – those that subscribe to the theory that what is good for the planet is good for humanity. So we were delighted when former SSC Intern Matthew Savage joined The Quality of Life Foundation, a small San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit startup that engages volunteers to plant trees in public spaces in order to build stronger and healthier individuals, communities, and ecosystems.
The Quality of Life Foundation has a simple goal: to provide grass-roots volunteers with opportunities to experience joy and community building in the simple act of planting trees. Inspired by the work of Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for leading a tree planting and social justice movement (the Green Belt movement) in Kenya, the foundation’s executive director Lee Hwang says, “When we plant trees, we are planting seeds of hope for the future.”
Another cool thing? They are recruiting a Chief Happiness Officer. Yup, it’s true. The CHO will be responsible for fulfilling the Quality of Life Foundation’s community-building mission. The team is aggressively expanding and will probably hire additional staff towards the end of the year. If you are interested in finding out more about the foundation, contact Matthew Savage at matt@qualityoflifefoundation.org.