As a high school student, Matthew Rich was distressed at the number of trees being lost around his home county to urbanization and natural disasters. With a desire to plant 1,000 trees and $60, Matt started his own non-profit corporation – The Woodland and Wildlife Restoration Committee. Later with another $100 earned from a family garage sale, he purchased the first trees to be planted, and the “One Tree At A Time” project was born.

Classmates, scout troops and civic clubs pitched in and helped. International Paper Company heard about his project and joined with the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources in contributing more than 1,000 native Red Oak trees.

For his efforts and leadership, Matt has been recognized with numerous proclamations and was named one of the area’s Guardians of the Environment by the Charlotte Observer. Likewise, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation takes equal pride in recognizing Matthew Rich for his leadership, creativity and stewardship of our environment as one of the first recipients of the Legend Leadership Award.