Grant Gardner (Left) and Matt Cortina (Right) will travel across the country together in the summer of 2008 to promote social responsibility and convince their peers that great progress is collectively ours to make. On a 101-day, 4200-mile journey across the nation, these two college students will plant their one millionth tree in Florence, OR, completing an ambitious project a year and a half in the making. Although the New Jersey natives were neither vigilant environmentalists nor cyclists in the beginning, they seek to prove that progress and caring for nature is not an exclusive passion, but one for which we all should strive. Grant and Matt are just normal college guys out to prove you do not have to change your life to do something positive in your world. Years ago, the two met in middle school and became good friends through high school. A conversation on winter break in 2006 at a hometown coffee house between the two led to the organization of Planting America. Today they run Planting America Inc. and the self-titled "Planting America Project" is their inaugural endeavor.

Grant Gardner Grant is 21 years old and a junior at Virginia Tech studying marketing management. He grew up in Flemington, N. J. and graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in 2005. Grant is both a director and the president of Planting America Inc., and along with sharing everyday tasks with Matt regarding the project, he manages the website and is responsible for the layout and creation of the site.

Matt Cortina Matt is 20 years old and a junior at Rutgers University studying English and linguistics. He also grew up in Flemington, N. J. and graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in 2005. Matt is both a director and the secretary of Planting America Inc., and among the other tasks he shares with Grant, he writes every document the company releases including press releases, proposals, updates, and more.

ADDITIONAL CREW

Lauren Campanella Lauren will serve two main roles on the 4,200 mile trip across the country for the team. The most important and time consuming will be planning and coordinating all of the community events for Matt and Grant's arrival in each city the two plan to visit. The second role will be the teams medical advisor. With over 4 years of experience and an EMT certification, Lauren will provide much needed assistance making sure that the expected injuries associated with the intensity of this ride are properly taken care of.

Matt Spiers The newest member of the Planting America family, Matt is currently helping the website and is the Planting America server administrator. Currently he helps advertise and market the project and will accompany the team along the trip to ensure complete success.