Help honor Elan’s Memory by planting a tree in NYC

Please help us honor the memory of Elan Ganeles by contributing to the donation of a tree through the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Tree Time program. We are hoping to raise a donation amount of $6,644 by the April planting season towards the following:

• A new Ginkgo tree planted at 160 West 96th Street Manhattan, a location selected in collaboration with Elan’s family and friends (please see a map of the approximate location here in blue)

• Removal of the existing concrete on the plot, and the creation of a new 120” x 60’ tree bed, including required permits

• Installation of a style B tree guard with an engraved plaque bearing Elan’s name

• Planting of the Ginkgo tree, with a two-year warranty

Elan was taken from us far too early and was a shining star of a person who positively impacted everyone he came in contact with. He was always demonstrating kindness, a sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, and was quick to offer his time to help others. Please see this article from his alma mater Columbia which provides numerous examples of what a unique, and remarkable person Elan was:

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2023/03/06/pillar-of-community-remembering-elan-ganeles-gs-22/

Elan is greatly missed by family, friends, his work colleagues at Esri, and his professors and fellow alumni at Columbia University.

He was passionate about New York City and sustainability and also loved the parks and urban forest of the city. Because of this, we believe a tree planted and dedicated in his name will help honor his memory.

Elan’s name in Hebrew loosely means tree, and his friends and family selected a Ginkgo species which for centuries has been seen as a symbol of peace, hope, vitality, and resilience, all of which are ideals that Elan embodied.

One goal of the Tree Time program is to raise public awareness of the importance of urban forestry conservation and stewardship, promote new technologies to enhance tree survival and advance innovative management tools, and revitalize historically and arboreally significant municipal trees. All of these themes also align with Elan’s interests and pursuits.

This StoryMap by the NYC Parks Department provides a nice summary about the benefits of an Urban Forest.

We would be grateful for contributions of any size to honor Elan’s memory in New York City - we appreciate your generosity!

Sincerely,

Elan’s friends and colleagues from Esri