Mesa Cemetery starts fundraiser to restore trees lost from monsoon storm

PHOENIX — Maricopa County District 2 Supervisor and Mesa native Steve Chucri donated $2,000 to the Mesa Cemetery on Wednesday to restore trees lost from a monsoon storm that occurred on July 30.

“I care deeply about this city and its public spaces,” Supervisor Chucri said in a press release.

“I was saddened to learn of the recent damage to the Mesa Cemetery, but heartened to be part of a larger effort to help restore its grounds with new trees to shelter and shade those who come to pay their respects.”

The donation goes to a fundraising program that will allow the restoration of over 25 mature Italian Cypress and olive trees that the cemetery lost during the storm.

Over 70 trees were also lost in a storm in July 2018 as well.

“The Italian Cyprus trees at the Mesa Cemetery are iconic,” Mayor John Giles said in the release.

“I’d like to thank Supervisor Chucri for his generous donation and encourage others to donate to the campaign through the Foundation for Mesa Parks and Recreation.”

The cemetery also withstood damage to the turf and fencing around the perimeter of the property due to the uprooting of the trees.

Donations can be made online by clicking “Donate” and then selecting “Tree Planting Program.”

Checks can also be made out to: Foundation for Mesa Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 4121, Mesa, AZ 85210.

“The Mesa Cemetery has been a staple of this community since 1895 and we want to make sure it continues to be for the next 100 years,” Vice Mayor Mark Freeman said in the release.

“I can’t thank Supervisor Chucri enough for this generous donation and for his dedication to helping replace the trees. This will go a long way to ensuring the cemetery is well-equipped for the next century.”

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