For Mitch Russell, learning about Dogwood Alliance was a happy accident. “I was searching the Internet for something else green-related, and Dogwood Alliance’s website popped up. The more I looked, the more intrigued I became,” says this longtime Vista Circle donor.

Originally from Mississippi, Mitch spent many years in Atlanta before moving with his family to Asheville, North Carolina in 2007. “My wife and I began supporting Dogwood Alliance while we were still in Atlanta. It felt good living in such a sprawling metropolis to know that we were helping sustain a more beneficial environment,” he says.
Mitch says it’s Dogwood’s niche that has been particularly attractive to him as a donor. “There are lots of groups working on forest conservation, but this is the only group focusing specifically on this region. I’ve spent a considerable amount of my life roaming in forests from the Mississippi Delta to the Appalachian Mountains, and it’s important to me to protect them to ensure air quality, bio-diversity, recreational opportunities and pure aesthetics.

“I also like Dogwood’s marketplace approach, and the wit that they incorporate into those campaigns.”

Environmental conservation is a key driver for Mitch, who spends time as a Muddy Water Watch volunteer, helps out with environmental education at his 8-year-old daughter’s elementary school, takes his 3-year-old son on “trash walks,” serves as coordinator for the Asheville chapter of the North Carolina Native Plant Society, and writes a monthly “green” column for his neighborhood newsletter.

“My involvement with Dogwood Alliance has been an uplifting experience,” he says.
“I know I’m part of an effective effort to steward Southern forests, and that gives me a sense of pride. My donation is turned into something much larger, and has a great impact.”