Our History
Great River Greening has been planting trees since our start in 1995 with a community-driven project along the Mississippi River in Saint Paul called Greening the Great River.
The organization officially became a registered environmental non-profit organization in Minnesota in 1999, securing its 501(c)(3) under the name Great River Greening. Since then, Great River Greening has restored and sustainably managed over 62,000 acres across Minnesota.
In 2025, we celebrated our 30th anniversary of engaging communities and transforming landscapes. Below is a timeline of our journey—from our early beginnings to where we are today. We invite you to explore and thank you for being a crucial part of our work!
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
The Founder’s Circle is a group of changemakers who were instrumental in launching Great River Greening.
Gordon & Jo Bailey
Paul Bard
Lori Biederman & Dave Paterson
Bigelow Foundation
Ann Bitter & Lyn Parker
David Boyce
Mary Broeker
Ellen Brown*
Bob Buck & Mary Coutreau
Rob Buffler
Gerry Bullard
Senator Norm Coleman*
Jay Cowles & Page Knudson Cowles
Lydia Crawford & Phil Davies
Anne DeCoster
Tom Dickson & Lisa Myaya
* 30th Anniversary Co-Chair
Kathy & Steve Dougherty
Lee Driscoll
Joan Duddingston
Krista Erickson
Tim Faricy
Ellen Fuge
Joan Galli
Jim & Joan Gardner
Gary Gardner
Blanche & Thane Hawkins
Bill Highum & Jenny Mockenhaupt
Steven Holmstoen
Patricia & Robert Huberty
Anne Hunt
Deborah Karasov
Allan Kelin & Harriet Lansing
Doug & Julie Kmoch
Cynthia Lane
Colles Larkin
Dusty Mairs
Hellen Mairs
Monica & Tim Marx
McKnight Foundation
Ann & Doug McMillan
Edie Meissner
Sheila Mohr
William Moyers
Catherine Nicohlson
Nancy & Richard Nicholson
Margaret Ordway
Gregory Page
Bob Paradise
Dave Peterson
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Saint Paul Garden Club
Bill & Susan Sands
Patrick Seeb
Barb & Dennis Senneseth
Maria Silva
Lucy Thompson
Judy Titcomb
Tom Trow
UMN Landscape Studies
TK Walling
Greg Wenz
Ted & Nancy Weyerhaeuser
Ben & Mary Whitney
Jonathan & Sarah Wilmshurst