The Canopy Awards are Casey Trees’ annual celebration of the people and organizations who help our region’s tree canopy thrive. Each year, we shine a spotlight on the dedication and achievements of volunteers, partners, educators, leaders, and community members who make a lasting impact. It’s a joyful tribute to the essential role trees play in our communities and across the world, and a moment to celebrate those whose passion keeps our mission growing strong.
Check this page next week!
We will announce a new awardee every week from April 13 -May 4, 2026.
OUR 2026 HONOREES
Ulrich Hewer | Award for Volunteer Service
Ulrich is a longtime champion of Casey Trees and the broader effort to care for the DC region’s tree canopy. Since 2001, he has volunteered to plant trees across the city, leading and educating others as a Team Leader. From 2013 to 2016, he also served on the Casey Trees Board of Directors.
Ulrich’s commitment to trees began early. With his father and brother, he planted fruit trees around their small village of about 1,000 people, where he grew up after World War II. He studied at Indiana University in Bloomington before working at the United Nations in New York and the World Bank in Washington. During that time, he learned about cocoa and rice cultivation in West Africa and later helped privatize state-owned enterprises in Eastern Europe so they could function properly in private-market economies. From 2001 to 2003, he also served as Director of the Kiev School of Economics, a leading university in Ukraine.
A proud Ward 4 resident, Ulrich has attended more than 180 Casey Trees events and helped plant hundreds of trees across the city. His continued involvement reflects his deep belief in the value and beauty of trees, community stewardship, and civic engagement.