Project 52 Inc

Our Mission Statement "Planting seeds of hope, one tree at a time" Dustin Blythe, Bill Clark, and Pastor John Dawson met on a mission trip to the Honduras and quickly became friends. During the flight home and hundreds of miles away, Dustin’s son, Treye Blythe, had been murdered. Treye was 18 at the time and had been at a house party. He was tragically stabbed to death when he tried to pull a friend out of a fight. Treye lost his life trying to help a friend he barely knew. Despite this devastating loss, Dustin, Bill and Pastor John continued to work on their dream of helping others. The name "Project 52" came about one night when Bill was looking at a picture of Treye wearing his football jersey. His number was 52. The idea of who the charity could serve came shortly after Treye's death: Dustin’s friends planted a red maple tree in the Blythe backyard, and friends of Treye’s mom, Lisa, also planted a tree in memory of Treye. These gifts gave inspired the idea to serve grieving families by honoring the departed and blessing those left behind. The group soon learned that 52 was the perfect number, as they wanted to help others 52 weeks a year— not just once a year on a mission trip or at Christmas. And of course Psalm 52 is perfect in light of the Trees to Remember Program — "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.