City of Columbia and Columbia Green partnering with Columbia College to host educational event for Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree initiative

Who: City of Columbia, Columbia Green, and Columbia College

What: Columbia Green and the City of Columbia are partnered with Columbia College to offer our next free educational event for Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree on January 31st at Columbia College. This popular event highlighting the Beat the Heat program is a collaboration between Columbia Green and the City to give away thousands of shade trees to property owners across greater Columbia. Urban trees are our best defense against extreme urban heat, air pollution, storm water runoff, and the health disparities that exist in neighborhoods lacking a healthy tree canopy and ready access greenspaces.

This month’s event, hosted by Columbia College at the Johnnie Cordell Breed Leadership Lecture Hall, will focus especially on the health benefits of trees and the public health imperative of rebuilding our urban canopy. Why? Because numerous studies show that lack of access to a healthy urban tree canopy has many negative effects on public health outcomes, including higher incidence of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and respiratory disease.

Columbia College got involved with Beat the Heat because they see this partnership as a way to do something about the public health crisis that exists all around them. “The 29203 zip code spans approximately 62 square miles and is home to over 41,000 people across communities rich with talent, resilience, and opportunity for impact.  It is also a place facing serious health inequities, including one of the highest rates of diabetes-related amputations in the nation,” said John Dozier, president of Columbia College “That reality calls for action.  We are leaning into partnerships and solutions that strengthen health, build knowledge, and improve daily life in our neighborhoods.  Partnering with Columbia Green to put more trees into our community is a practical step we can take right now.  Healthier neighborhoods begin with shared responsibility, and this is an invitation for our neighbors to join us and learn how to access free trees to help reforest the places they call home.”

Brian Neiger, Superintendent of Forestry and Beautification for the City, said that several tree canopy studies undertaken by the University of South Carolina show a significant decline in our urban canopy, specifically on private property. “The City is planting many more trees in public rights of way each year than we must take down due to age, storm damage, or disease, so we know that most of this loss is due to development on private property. By giving away shade trees to property owners, we are helping to reverse a 22% decline in our urban canopy over the last 15 years.”

A special challenge faced by the people who live in the 29203 area and surrounding areas is that a great many people rent their homes. “We encourage both renters and property owners to attend our events so that working together, we can get large numbers of shade trees into our neighborhoods, especially in areas with low urban tree canopy, said Jennifer Young, Executive Director of Columbia Green. “Even if property owners don’t attend, renters can take information about Beat the Heat back to their property owners who can request free trees. We have many renters who offer to plant trees if their property owner will order them. We have also had a couple of apartment complexes apply for enough trees to plant entire groves. So, whether you own residential or commercial property, we are here to help you grow some shade!”

Adam Elvington, President of Columbia Green, works tirelessly to protect urban greenspaces. He spends much of his time hiking, birdwatching, and helping to remove invasive plants and trash from public greenspaces. “Protecting our existing trees and rebuilding our urban forest doesn’t just add beauty to our city,” he says. “Our urban forest is the ecosystem that insects, pollinators, birds, and creatures—including us—depend on for our survival. Planting trees today is an act of hope for the world we will leave to our children and grandchildren. It all starts in your own backyard.”

Beat the Heat – Plant a Tree kicked off in July of 2024 with a celebration and educational event at Benedict College. Originally funded by a USDA grant, the program is now entirely funded by private donations to Columbia Green, a 501 (3) (c) nonprofit. Since its inception, the project has given away over 1,550 native 7-gallon shade trees. “On average, it costs about $100 to deliver a 7-gallon native shade tree with a TreeDiaper® watering device to a participant’s door,” explained Young. “Providing free educational events and resources, free trees and watering devices, and coordinating distribution requires that we raise money,” she said. “A lot of it. We all know the adage that money doesn’t grow on trees…? Well, the truth is, trees grow on money. So, whether you are an individual, or the leader of a business or industry in greater Columbia, by contributing to our reforestation efforts, you can join our team of heroes.” Young added that their goal is to raise a million dollars to fund trees.

To learn more about the program and see the list of available trees, visit the Beat the Heat page at columbiagreen.org. “Even if you cannot attend one of our events, if you own property, you can apply to receive free trees on our website,” added April Lucas, Beat the Heat Committee Chair. “Get your orders in now if you want to plant during this planting season,” she said. “Our planting season here is SC runs from mid-October to early March. After early March, it isn’t safe to plant young trees if you want them to survive the summer heat. But we will continue to take orders for trees throughout the year and will resume distribution in October for the 2026-2027 planting season.”

Beat the Heat educational events are free and open to everyone. Come and learn how you can be part of the solution to urban heat and foster a healthier community, starting in your own backyard.

Sign up to attend at: https://columbiagreen.org/beattheheat

Share with a friend…or your whole neighborhood! If you rent your home, please share with your property owner.

WHEN: Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Johnnie Cordell Breed Leadership Lecture Hall, 1301 Columbia College Drive, 29203.