On a Saturday morning, in May 2022 Arizona Columbine members gathered at Frank Borman Elementary School in Maryvale (55th Avenue and Clarendon) to assist in the planting of seventy-five shade trees at the school. More than 100 students and parents from Borman, assisted by volunteers from The Nature Conservancy, 88 Acres, Watershed Management, Trees Matter and Arizona Columbine Garden Club helped in the effort to bring much needed shade for the children and the neighborhood.

Borman School was selected because of its need for shade trees around its property. The community of Maryvale has a mere 4% shade cover compared to 12.5% for Phoenix as a whole. The lack of shade can cause a disparity in temperatures as much as 13 degrees in less shaded areas. The children at Borman had no shaded areas to go to...that is until Columbine made the project a reality.

With the Columbine endowment, member and member foundation donations totaling $50,000, Columbine paid for all 75 trees, the ground preparation and supplies. Prior to planting, three workshops were held at Borman School to educate the students on the importance of trees, the type of trees to be planted and the maintenance needed to keep the trees alive. There were seven varieties of trees, many of them flowering, that will provide shade, cooler temperatures and bring joy and a sense of ownership to the Borman community.