Trees for Tuition: Cultivating Education and a Greener Future
Trees for Tuition (TFT) is more than just a Christmas tree business; it's a testament to the power of student entrepreneurship, community support, and environmental consciousness. Founded in 2015 by Atlanta high schoolers Calder Johnson and Jack Faught, TFT has blossomed from a simple phone-in Christmas tree delivery service into a multifaceted operation that provides jobs, scholarships, and environmental benefits. This article explores the journey of Trees for Tuition, highlighting its impact on Atlanta students, the community, and the environment.
From a Simple Idea to a Thriving Business
The story of Trees for Tuition began with a practical need: funding college expenses. In 2015, Atlanta high schoolers Calder Johnson and Jack Faught founded Trees for Tuition as a phone-in Christmas tree delivery service. It was a way for the high schoolers to make some extra money for their upcoming college expenses during winter break. “Trees for Tuition” seemed like the perfect name! What started as a small venture quickly gained traction, fueled by the community's desire for convenient Christmas tree delivery and a desire to support local students.
As demand for their service continued to grow each year TFT decided to grow with it. Seven years and two UGA degrees later, TFT now offers high-paying winter break jobs to other Atlanta students, has two physical Atlanta locations, and an online Christmas tree delivery shop. The business model was simple: deliver Christmas trees to customers' doorsteps, saving them the hassle of visiting tree lots. This convenience, coupled with the founders' entrepreneurial spirit, propelled TFT's early success.
Investing in Education: The Trees for Tuition Scholarship
Recognizing the importance of education, TFT established its very own scholarship fund in 2021, awarding $2,000 to six Atlanta students! The Trees for Tuition Scholarship reflects the company's commitment to giving back to the community that supported its growth.
Their scholarship program does not have GPA or financial need requirements. “We don’t want it to just be limited to tuition because the main expenses we faced when we were in college were rent and food,” Calder explained. The scholarships are open to any Atlanta Public Schools (APS) senior or undergraduate college student who graduated from APS schools, encouraging students to pursue their dreams and contribute to their communities. Current students can apply today by visiting TreesforTuition.org.
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College students like Essence Stephens (Clark Atlanta University), Jesse Hart (Northwestern University) and Jordan Troy (Georgia State University) were each awarded $2,000 for their Fall 2024 semester, after describing how they plan to improve their community or the world at large.
Johnson and Faught together hope more applicants will apply year over year, especially as their business grows and they are able to award more scholarships to exceptional students. “We always encourage those who work here to apply,” Johnson said.
In 2023, Trees for Tuition set an initial goal to fund 4 scholarships of $2000 each. “Last year we started donating to Achieve Atlanta which is a scholarship that benefits APS graduates,” said Jack. “We started our own scholarship fund so we can give back to the same community that was helping us through college at that point,” Johnson said. “We’re looking for applicants who tell us how they want to make the world a better place.
“I thought it would be a good resource to tap into,” Suazo said. For 2025, the target is even higher: “For 2025, we would love to support 20 students ($40,000) and plant 5,000 trees ($5,000),” Johnson said. To those scholarship recipients, the generosity of the business and its founders, coupled with knowing that they are funded by their neighborhoods, makes a world of difference.
A Commitment to Sustainability: Tree for a Tree and Recycling Programs
While TFT believes education is one of the most important investments we can make for the future they also believe the environment is going to play a pretty big role in that future as well. TFT's commitment extends beyond education to environmental stewardship. In 2020 Trees for Tuition started its Tree for a Tree program which promises to plant one forever tree for every Christmas tree they sell. That’s one tree planted that won’t be cut down every single time you buy a Christmas tree from TFT. Since 2020 TFT has planted 2,200 forever trees around the globe. In 2020, through a partnership with One Tree Planted, Trees for Tuition was able to plant 450 trees in Uganda after their holiday season.
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One of the many reasons purchasing a real Christmas tree is more sustainable than purchasing an artificial tree is its recyclability. There are over 4000 local Christmas tree recycling programs throughout the US but getting your tree to these locations can be a hassle. Trees for Tuition has helped Atlanta recycle thousands of Christmas trees since they started in 2015. For just $15 Trees for Tuition will come to your home, pick up your Christmas tree and then transport it to a recycling center for you. When you rent a Christmas tree stand from TFT for $30 this service is included (and you won’t have to store that Christmas tree stand all year round). Trees are taken to one of the many Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation drop-off locations where they are then chipped and used as mulch in Georgia parks and public spaces! If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of annual Christmas tree buying, consider this: instead of leaving your tree at the curb after the holiday season, those who opt for Trees for Tuition’s tree stand rental and recycling program can rest easy knowing their discarded tree will be turned into mulch and distributed at local parks throughout the Atlanta area.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
TFT actively engages with the Atlanta community through various partnerships and initiatives. This year we have partnered with Trees for Tuition to deliver fresh Fraser Fir Christmas trees to every fire station in Atlanta! Through this partnership, we are taking advantage of all TFT’s services including Christmas tree delivery + Installation, stand rental, and tree recycling. At the same time, we will also be supporting their scholarship fund and planting 40 forever trees through their Tree for a Tree program!
“We had a great experience hosting Trees for Tuition at Atlanta Dairies in 2023,” Asana Partners Representative, Matt Saylor shared. “We expect a lot of people will wander in from the Beltline,” Johnson said.
Beyond Christmas break and into January, Trees for Tuition switches gears to focus on customers who need their trees removed through their tree recycling program. “This way, the trees don’t go to waste, we recycle them and they get chipped up for use somewhere else,” Lepik said.
Creating Opportunities for Students
Trees for Tuition provides valuable employment opportunities for Atlanta students. The tree lots rely on a multitude of workers to operate smoothly throughout the holiday season, and many Atlanta high school and college students compete for coveted spots to work with the business, including Midtown students and alumni. “I definitely wanted to work here when I heard about it,” Suazo said. “I know a lot of people my age and high school students who do too. “I feel like it’s become a tradition that happens every year,” Suazo said. “[Teens] work across all seven of our lots,” Johnson said. Longtime worker Ben Lepik has worked at Trees for Tuition’s lots for six years, and finds that working as helpers around the lots is a valuable experience for developing teens. He notes that the job is well suited for them because of flexible hours and reliable wages that fit well with their busy lives. The lots operate each season from early September through January. Until Christmastime, the business acts as a pumpkin patch for fall and Halloween decorations. “Theres definitely so much for our teenage workers, like those from Midtown, to do around here,” Lepik said. “They can be pumpkin patch sellers and help with the Christmas tree sales and set up during the busy part of the season. “Everybody works all over, but [they] have to be 18 or older to do some specific things: the chainsaw or drive deliveries,” Grisset said. “If you’re under 18, you can do almost everything else, especially helping the customers directly.
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Working at Trees for Tuition’s lots offers students from the community more than just income. Suazo sees that he and other coworkers gain valuable people skills through interacting with a diverse range of customers. “[Working] with real people helps make your resume look more balanced; colleges like to see genuine work experience compared to just clubs or other activities that might not be as impactful,” Suazo said. “It shows diversity.
Customer Satisfaction and Convenience
Trees for Tuition has garnered a loyal customer base due to its commitment to quality, convenience, and customer service. This was the easiest, most efficient, best Xmas tree experience EVER. First, ordering the tree - I was hesitant because I worried it wouldn't be what I wanted and it was PERFECT. Delivery on time with great notification. Beautiful tree that I would have picked myself. Plus I got to support students. This year was the EASIEST Christmas set up EVER with Trees for Tuition delivering our tree, stand, and wreath yesterday! So happy with my tree and service. I got my tree early in December and it was still beautiful and not dry at all even by the end of the month! Easy and as promised! Trees for Tuition has an easy online ordering process. I ordered a package with delivery. I am now a customer for life. The service is outstanding and the young men who picked up and delivered my tree were professional and charming. I would definitely purchase another tree from Trees for Tuition. The tree packages are the best bargain in the city. Great experience from top to bottom. We loved our experience last year with Trees for Tuition! The people who dropped off and picked up our tree were timely, friendly, and helpful. Absolutely love Trees for Tuition. The ability to rent a stand and schedule a tree pick-up is fantastic. We also now get our pumpkins from them too.
Fresh fraser firs, wreaths, garland and more delivered straight to your doorstep. We’ll net your tree, give it a fresh cut, install your tree stand, and load / secure your tree to your vehicle! Trees for Tuition staff will happily load your fresh cut tree into a stand and onto your car. For a nominal fee, they’ll deliver it to your doorstep or set it up in your home.
If you’re thinking about shopping with Trees for Tuition they have informed us that some tree heights, as well as their delivery days and times, are limited this season. They are advising that you pre-order your Christmas tree as soon as possible to lock in your ideal delivery date and Christmas tree height. You can pre-order your tree here!
The Founders' Journey: From Elementary School to Entrepreneurship
In 2015 two 16 year old best friends, Jack Faught and Calder Johnson, decided to start their own Christmas tree business to earn a little extra money for college. They launched Trees for Tuition that year with only 30 trees available for delivery. Jack, now 22, and Calder, who recently turned 23, have been friends since they met in first grade at Mary Lin Elementary. They grew up attending schools in the Atlanta Public School System, later Inman Middle and Grady High School - now Midtown High School - before enrolling at the University of Georgia where they lived together as roommates. Throughout those formative years, and despite the pressures of school and later college, Jack and Calder continued to develop Trees for Tuition. “The free delivery thing was what really got us started,” said Calder.
During the 2020 season, in the midst of finals during their senior year at UGA, Jack and Calder were floored when they sold all 500 of their trees before December 1. “When we saw how quickly we sold 500, which is more than we had ever sold, we knew that this year we could really go big with this thing,” said Jack. They have since lined up partnerships with farmers who have agreed to continuously supply their lots with new trees throughout the days leading up to Christmas. “We are still just super involved in all the manual labor of it,” said Jack. “It’s a lot of hard work. We built all the stands and everything. For a little more than a month every year Jack and Calder pull extremely long hours. Their normal schedule consists of shifts that last from 6am to 10pm.
“We found Christmas trees for sale outside Atlanta,” Faught said. “We would buy them there and deliver them to our neighbors. Our first year we sold 30 trees. On this first lot, they sold all 500 trees before Dec. “That was the first year we broke 1,000 trees,” Faught said.
Once the lots around the city close down for the season, the founders immediately start looking at their sales to decide the quantity of trees to source for next season, continuing the business’ sustainability. “Once we’re all wrapped up, we think about how many trees to order from the farm for next season,” Johnson said.
A Socially Responsible Business
“We are not a charity, it is a for profit business,” clarified Calder. “But it is a socially responsible company. We pay ourselves to operate this, because we have to live, that’s the opportunity cost.
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