From parks to people: Meet our 2025 1% for the Planet beneficiaries

Just over 10 years ago, I moved from Colorado to L.A. to work for the climate change advocacy nonprofit Protect Our Winters (POW), whose office was located in Pacific Palisades — an idyllic, close-knit community tucked within the massive, sometimes overwhelming city.

Moving from a small mountain town in Colorado to the second largest city in the country was a shock to my system, but the trail network within the Palisades was my saving grace. Multiple times a week in those first couple years at POW, I’d use my lunch break to haul up Temescal Ridge Trail, located within Topanga State Park, whose trailhead was half a mile from my office. A decade later, it was still a weekly ritual for me until the Palisades fire devastated the area, in addition to the iconic Will Rogers State Park, in January. That community and the Santa Monica Mountains are a huge reason I moved back to this area when I could live anywhere in the country. 

Because of that, I have chosen my donation to go to the Climate Crisis Relief Fund created by the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF), which is specifically earmarked for parks that have recently experienced climate impacts from wildfires (among other natural disasters). I am incredibly fortunate my community in Santa Monica was left physically unscathed during the fires, but the devastation we feel for our neighbors, and for the loss of the wilderness that was once at our fingertips, is felt throughout Los Angeles. Funds like these are going to be essential in rebuilding some of the most treasured parts of this city.

Prospect Park is Brooklyn's backyard. Rain or shine, hot or cold, people from across the borough are there every day to exercise, enjoy nature, walk their dogs, meet up with friends, dance-walk (yes, that's a thing) — you name it. It's a place for everyone. And ever since I moved to the city, it's been part of my go-to running route, too.

The Prospect Park Alliance goes to great pains to maintain this vibrant green community space and welcome Brooklynites from across the borough. But late last year, disaster hit: During a historic drought, a brush fire swept through the park, which is also home to Brooklyn's last remaining forest. It was one of more than 370 brush fires to hit the city in 2024, and the blaze took out two acres of trees. I'm supporting the Alliance in its work to rehabilitate Prospect Park's forest and protect this space that so many Brooklyn residents hold dear.

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Meaningful climate action requires both technological innovation and pragmatic policy change. That’s why I’m pleased to support Clean Air Task Force (CATF), an organization that has spent the past 25 years driving progress in reducing emissions and advancing clean energy solutions. In a shifting political landscape, policy advocacy is crucial, and CATF has a proven track record of working through legal and legislative channels to establish stronger regulations and supportive policy. From securing tax credits for renewable energy and carbon capture to tightening restrictions on coal-fired power plants, diesel pollution, and methane emissions, CATF has been instrumental in shaping policies that cut emissions at scale.

Because climate change is a global problem, I’m excited about how CATF has expanded its reach to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. They have also made significant strides in scaling up technology and commercialization. They focus on often-overlooked technologies, like advanced nuclear, geothermal, and carbon capture, considering “all options with an open mind and clear vision.” With a long history of success and recognition from organizations like Giving Green and Vox, there are plenty of great reasons to support CATF.

I've worked with several chapters of Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer and as a member of a partner organization. My experiences with the organization have always been positive, and their mission to provide decent, sustainable, affordable housing for all resonates with me deeply.

This year's wildfires in L.A. were devastating to behold. Thousands of residents were displaced and must now either relocate or rebuild. There is a great need for housing in and around L.A., and I'm happy to contribute to that cause.

I am deeply passionate about women's health, maternal health, and bodily autonomy, so I wanted to select an organization that supported women and parents, especially in conjunction with the recent L.A. wildfires. 

For families living in poverty, diapers, formula, etc. are very expensive line items on the monthly budget. In America, one out of two families struggles to afford diapers. The financial burden of parenthood is one of many reasons for America's maternal health crisis.

In times of natural disaster, this stress of having children only intensifies. Baby2Baby was an easy choice for me as this organization implements a crisis donation program and has already donated over two million supplies to L.A. families. Baby2Baby also implements a maternal health care program dedicated to alleviating new mother stress through donated supplies and has an ongoing diaper donation program. 

In short, Baby2Baby, donates critical resources to families who need them most, when they need them most. I am proud to support their work as a DG+ employee this year.

I believe that addressing the climate crisis requires not only technical solutions but also a fundamental shift in how we think about food, land, and ecosystems. Climate Farm School plays a critical role in this transformation by providing hands-on, farm-based education for people looking to integrate climate action into their careers and communities.

What resonates most with me is the program’s emphasis on systems thinking and tangible solutions. By bringing together professionals from diverse fields — education, policy, business, and beyond — Climate Farm School fosters collaboration and empowers participants to apply climate-conscious strategies in real-world contexts. I am proud to support their mission to cultivate informed, action-oriented leaders in the fight for a more sustainable future.

The Land Back movement has reinvigorated efforts to rediscover, preserve, and pass on historic and living Indigenous cultures. Indigenous people at the forefront of the Land Back movement embody resilience, pride, and perseverance while reclaiming their right to land and culture. Lands stewarded by Native peoples are healthier, as they are cared for in accordance with ancestral cultural practices that prioritize ecosystem and human harmony. 

The Native Land Conservancy (NLC) is headquartered in Mashpee, MA, close to my own home in Massachusetts. As a resident of Turtle Island (the modern-day United States), I live in a nation created at the expense of Native peoples atop their stolen lands. Thus, supporting the contemporary reclamation of Indigenous sovereignty, culture, land, and power is a core value of mine. The NLC's grassroots work gives me hope that a future exists in which we can re-Indigenize the land and people to heal nature and culture as one.

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This year, I chose to direct my 1% for the Planet donation to World Central Kitchen (WCK), inspired by their remarkable response to the devastating Southern California wildfires and my deep personal connection to the food service industry.

With parents who dedicated their lives to the food service industry, I witnessed firsthand how food builds community and provides comfort in times of need. WCK exemplified these values during the recent fires that forced 30,000 residents to evacuate and left 200,000 facing power outages. Their teams mobilized swiftly across the Los Angeles area, partnering with local restaurants and food trucks to serve over 200,000 meals to displaced families and tireless first responders battling blazes amid dangerous 100 mph Santa Ana winds.

Founded by Chef José Andrés, WCK's approach resonates with me because they understand that a fresh, thoughtfully prepared meal does more than nourish the body — it sends a powerful message of care and solidarity to communities in crisis. Their commitment to working alongside local communities while providing immediate relief embodies everything I learned from my parents about food's unique power to heal, connect, and restore hope.

Heavy industry is one of the largest contributors to climate pollution but remains difficult to decarbonize due to the societal prevalence of materials like steel, aluminum, and cement, the complexity of industrial processes, and the high capital and legislative requirements for change. Industrious Labs addresses these challenges through deep research, decarbonization roadmaps, and strategic advocacy campaigns. They've already launched several successful campaigns targeting landfill emissions, steel, aluminum, cement, and industrial heat, and have played a key role in several key policy successes: The Department of Energy (DOE)’s decision to award $500M to clean aluminum, funding for the first green iron-making plant in the U.S., and state-level industrial heat regulations in California. 

I most admire their multidisciplinary approach, dedication to open-source data, and commitment to community engagement. In my work, I have seen how challenging it can be to integrate emerging cleantech into established industries without external pushes. With more climate and energy policy uncertainty ahead, it’s crucial that organizations like Industrious Labs continue to drive industries toward sustainability. I'm proud to support them, as I believe the systemic changes they're working toward will positively impact workers, communities, and future generations.

I chose to donate to Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation because it's a way of giving back to the places that have given me so much — countless days spent camping, hiking, biking, and playing in the rivers, completely immersed in nature. These experiences have shaped some of my best memories, and I want to ensure that others can continue to create their own for years to come.

I’m proud to support Porchlight Community Services with my 1% for the Planet donation because of their critical work in addressing food sustainability. By rescuing perfectly edible food that would otherwise be discarded, they help ensure that community members have access to fresh, healthy food at no cost. This vital organization directly serves my hometown of San Diego, where I live.

Every year, Americans waste an astounding 92 billion pounds of food — enough to provide 145 billion meals, according to Feeding America. This waste doesn’t just represent lost food; it means perfectly safe and nutritious resources are sent to landfills instead of being shared. Porchlight is on the frontlines of reversing this crisis, intercepting that food before it’s wasted and redirecting it to those who need it most.

What sets Porchlight apart is its client-choice model, which empowers individuals and families to select their groceries based on their needs rather than simply receiving pre-packed bags. This approach promotes dignity, choice, and self-sufficiency, and serves a broad range of community members — especially families who may not qualify for other forms of assistance but still face financial hardship.

Porchlight’s impact is helping my city, and I’m honored to contribute to their mission of reducing waste, feeding those in need, and fostering a stronger, more sustainable community.

Since my partner and I moved to Portland, Oregon in March 2023, Forest Park has been a special place. From hiking to trail running to networking meetings (yes, really), I go to Forest Park to improve my fitness, refresh my mind, and connect with friends and acquaintances. It's the largest forested park in an urban center in the country, and you feel it when you're there. The trails are well-kept, but everything else is deep woods. I credit the Forest Park Conservancy for the fact that Portlanders respect and love this park.