Marvin Edwards (left) and Don Leonard celebrate the redwood grove dedicated in their names.
Don Leonard has been giving to Save the Redwoods League for more than 25 years, but his love of the redwoods—and the outdoors—was instilled in him at a young age. Don fondly recalls spending summer vacations with family exploring California’s parks and expansive wild places when he was a child.
A graduate of California State University of Long Beach, Don was a middle school art teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District for more than 30 years. After retiring from teaching, Don moved to San Francisco to be with his partner, Marvin Edwards. Marvin is widely known for his restoration of Victorian homes in San Francisco, and he and Don reside in one of his masterpieces.
The couple enjoys traveling and spending time with their wide circle of friends from around the world. Among their favorite destinations in California is the coast of San Simeon, Yosemite, and closer to home, Butano State Park south of San Francisco. When Don learned that his gift to the League could be recognized through a redwood grove, he already had a spot in mind.
“I knew it had to be at Butano,” he says. “There’s something almost magical about it. It continues to be one of our favorite destinations.”
The Donald W. Leonard and Marvin Edwards redwood grove was dedicated in November 2019 and is a lasting testimony to both Don’s and Marvin’s love of the redwoods, and their enduring partnership.
You, too, can be recognized for your generosity. To learn how your gift to Save the Redwoods League can be memorialized in your favorite redwood destination, please contact Deborah White at 415-820-5828 or DWhite@SaveTheRedwoods.org.