SAE U.S.A - World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE)

Plant Your Roots in Greece Foundation is a non-profit organization, established in 1991 in Washington. It was presented to the Greek-American community in 1994 at the annual conference of the Hellenic American National Council held in Chicago. The foundation was placed under the auspices of the National Council during the devastating fires in Greece. Over the last years it has been very active promoting its program within the wider Greek-American community and also in Greece where the first Greek branch was established in 2004.

The aim of the American foundation is to sensitize visitors to Greece and tourists of Greek-American descent in three areas:
1. To become aware of and contribute to the protection of the Greek environment through tree planting.
2. To strengthen the bonds with the birthplace, and more so for the younger generations of Greek-Americans.
3. To understand and adopt the concept of volunteerism as tree planting is always carried out in collaboration with Local Government Authorities, Archaeological Services and volunteer groups (high school and university students, athletes, scouts, hunters, fire fighters).

“Our vision is to see Greece green again, as we Greek immigrants to America remember it” says Mr. Spyropoulos “The main idea of the organization is to combine the ancient Hellenic tradition of respect for nature with the Olympic ideal of volunteerism. We promote the spirit of reconciliation of man with not only the social but with the natural environment.