Alliance for Cape Fear Trees Makes a Splash with Their Thirst Responder

During The Bolger Foundation’s Fall 2025 funding cycle, the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees (Wilmington, NC) applied for funds with which to purchase a truck, trailer, and water tank. Founded in 2015, the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees preserves, protects, and plants trees to enhance quality of life and health in the Lower Cape Fear, NC, area.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit was awarded a $15,000 challenge grant, which meant they had to raise $15,000 on their own in order to receive The Bolger Foundation’s matching donation.

This week, The Bolger Foundation received a thank-you note from the organization’s Executive Director, Isabelle Shepherd, who wrote:

“I’m reaching out with great joy to share photos of our new-to-us, freshly wrapped watering truck — made possible thanks to The Bolger Foundation’s generous support! We’ve affectionately dubbed her the ‘Thirst Responder’, and she is already making quite a splash.

“Our volunteers absolutely love using the truck, and there’s a real sense of pride that comes with driving it around town. Beyond making our tree-care work more reliable and efficient, the Thirst Responder has increased the Alliance’s visibility and helped us build greater recognition and trust in the neighborhoods we serve — an especially meaningful benefit as we work to deepen our community relationships.

“My team and I simply cannot express the depth of our gratitude for this tremendous gift. The Bolger Foundation’s support has given us far more than a vehicle; it has strengthened our ability to care for the trees we plant, support the volunteers who make this work possible, and show our community that when we plant a tree, we’re committed to being there for the long haul. Thank you for helping us keep our trees—and our mission—growing strong!”

The Bolger Foundation is proud to support this worthy organization. Kudos and congratulations to the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees!