GreenKeepers and Friends: Celebrating a Year of Impact

By: Katie Waters

The GreenKeepers and Friends End of Year Celebration was a joyful and meaningful way to close out 2025. With a cozy hot chocolate bar and a competitive round of KIB Jeopardy, we gathered to celebrate the incredible work of our GreenKeepers, Adopt-A-Block Captains, Ambassadors, and Tree Tenders, the specialized volunteers who make our mission possible. It was a night filled with laughter, reflection, and deep appreciation for a community that shows up again and again to help people and nature thrive.

Throughout the year, these volunteers have pruned trees, planted native species, picked up litter, restored habitats, and cared for GreenSpaces across Indianapolis. But as one volunteer shared, a KIB project is more than the task at hand; it’s “a celebration of love to our community,” where neighbors come together to improve the natural environment and each other’s lives. Another reflected that while the benefits of this work may not always be immediate, “the positive impacts will last decades,” especially through trees and green spaces that support both people and wildlife.

What motivates our specialized volunteers is just as powerful as what they accomplish. Many spoke about their commitment to improving their neighborhoods, protecting the environment, and creating a better city for future generations. One Tree Tender summed it up simply: “I literally feel like I’m improving people’s lives every time I step into a KIB neighborhood”. Others shared stories of involving grandchildren, students, and family members—turning volunteer work into a legacy that grows year after year.

The celebration was also a reminder of the community that forms through this work. Volunteers described KIB with words like uplifting, impactful, vibrant, and inspiring, highlighting not only the outcomes of the projects but the camaraderie built along the way. From planting trees in challenging weather to hearing a neighbor’s heartfelt thanks, these shared moments are what keep people coming back.

To all of our GreenKeepers, Tree Tenders, Ambassadors, and Adopt-A-Block Captains: thank you. Your time, skills, and passion are essential to everything we do. Because of you, Indianapolis is greener, cleaner, and more connected and we are so grateful to celebrate you as part of the KIB community.

Categories: Adopt-A-Block, Engaged Citizens, KIB Ambassadors, Tree Tenders, Uncategorized, Volunteers