As part of his rare live performance at Outside Lands this summer, Paul Simon announced that he will donate the net proceeds from his artist fee to environmental philanthropic organizations he believes in.

His donation will be supporting San Francisco Parks Alliance (in partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department) and Friends of the Urban Forest, a pair of local nonprofits that have been working to promote environmental awareness and create a sense of community right here in San Francisco.

San Francisco Parks Alliance

(in partnership with San Francisco Recreation & Parks) San Francisco Parks Alliance (SFPA) champions, transforms, and activates parks and public spaces throughout our city through innovative partnerships with community groups, city government and local business. We believe that building these partnerships to support parks and open spaces leads to stronger, more cohesive communities, greater physical and mental wellness, and a more sustainable, equitable urban environment. SFPA believes that active community participation in our parks fosters public investment in our city’s open spaces. Working together to support our parks strengthens communities, promotes physical and mental health, encourages a strong economy, and helps the City leverage limited resources. To reach these goals, the Parks Alliance helps community members form park groups around their parks, open spaces and recreation centers.

Friends of the Urban Forest

Friends of the Urban Forest’s (FUF) mission is to promote a larger, healthier urban forest as part of San Francisco’s green infrastructure through community planting, tree care, education, and advocacy. FUF helps individuals and neighborhood groups plant and care for street trees and sidewalk gardens in San Francisco. This “green infrastructure” improves the city by beautifying neighborhoods, cleaning the air, and reducing polluted stormwater runoff. Since 1981, FUF has brought communities together to plant more than 60,000 trees, totaling almost half of the city’s street tree canopy.

FUF has been partners with Outside Lands in our Eco Lands area of the festival since the festival’s inception in 2008. The organization has always been proactive and engaging in their activation and continues to make significant impacts with it’s mission along the streets of San Francisco. FUF has also supported Outside Lands publicly in community, neighborhood and public hearings.