More than 25 women and men, ranging in age from 25 to 64, took to the trails the weekend of Sept. 5 to Sept. 7 to help end relationship abuse in San Mateo County.

They were volunteers for the second annual “Take A Hike!” benefiting CORA — Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse. On the three-day, two-night event, both experienced and novice hikers explored the trails and caves of Pinnacles National Monument near Hollister. Training hikes were held beforehand to help them prepare for the challenge and hikers received support and guidance on how to raise sponsorship dollars. All together, hike participants raised over $65,000 to help people and families whose lives have been impacted by relationship abuse.

CORA’s mission is to end domestic violence and abuse through intervention and prevention. Each year, CORA staff and volunteers help thousands of victims and witnesses discover empowerment, healing and hope. Their services include a 24-hour hotline, support groups, legal services, an emergency shelter, transitional housing and teen support services. CORA may be reached at P.O. Box 5090,San Mateo, CA 94402,  business line: 652-0800, 24 -hour hotline: 312-8515 or (800) 300-1080.

Corporate sponsors of “Take a Hike!” included Mollie Stone’s Markets, San Mateo County Association of Realtors, Borel Private Bank & Trust Company, The Law Firm of Corey, Luzaich, Pliska, de Ghetaldi & Nastari LLP, Wells Fargo, Comcast Cable, Inc., Hanson Family Law Group, LLP, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, John and Reva Segall, Lucky Chances and Bohannon Foundation.

CityTrees celebrates 2,000 trees

Local nonprofit CityTrees celebrated its 2,000th tree planting Sept. 21 at Stafford Park in Redwood City. Mayor Rosanne Foust and the City Council took part in the ceremonial planting of a native valley oak, which took its place near CityTrees’ 1,000th tree, a rapidly-growing dawn redwood. CityTrees is a volunteer group formed in May 2000 to promote and support urban forestry efforts in Redwood City. CityTrees works with the Redwood City Public Works Department to plant and maintain trees along Redwood City’s streets, at schools and on other publicly owned property. CityTrees sponsors tree plantings one Saturday per month during the spring and fall, conducts tree pruning several times during the summer and holds a pruning workshop with Redwood City’s arborist early in the year to train volunteers.

CityTrees board members spoke fondly of the eight-year history of the volunteer group. “This is our first-ever 2,000th tree,” joked CityTrees Board Chair Tom Cronin. “We hope there will be many more to come. Our planting partnership with the city during the last eight years has been fantastic, and all of our great sponsors and volunteers keep it going.”

Among those in attendance were CityTrees founders Jane Taylor and Jack Stephens, City Manager Peter Ingram and former Redwood City Mayor Georgi LaBerge. The milestone event received sponsorship from Oracle Corporation, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, the Pete and Paula Uccelli Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Public Works Services division of Redwood City, Norcal Waste System, Wegman’s Nursery, Tom’s Outdoor Furniture, United American Bank, First National Bank, the Port of Redwood City, Seaport Industrial Association, The Pauls Corporation, Harwood Home Builders, Kastrop Group Architects, Applebee’s Restaurant, Frank Bartaldo, Boething Treeland Farms and Sigona’s Farmers Market, raising more than $7,000 for new trees.

CityTrees welcomes new members, volunteers, and financial support. To join, volunteer or learn about planting and pruning opportunities, visit CityTrees’ website at www.citytrees.org or call 556-9380 ext. 4.

To send us information on upcoming events, e-mail us at social@smdailyjournal.com.