FOXBURG — Just about 100 years ago, the mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry blossom trees to Washington, D.C. The United States returned the favor three years later by giving Japan dogwood trees.

That show of friendship beginning in 1912 inspired Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School teacher Dixie Lipnichan to start an organization that will bring cherry blossoms to the region.

"It's a nice way to blend the cultures," she said, noting the region already has many dogwood trees.

Cherryish Our Communities celebrated its incorporation Monday night after the high school Japanese club planted and dedicated its first cherry blossom tree at Parker Personal Care Home.

Lipnichan, who teaches Japanese and world cultures, is president of the nonprofit and adviser of the club. She said the two groups will work together through the year to promote a community atmosphere and help the students see the value of service.

While the club includes mostly those studying Japanese at the school, the nonprofit involves the whole school and community, said high school principal and Cherryish Our Communities vice president David McDeavitt.

"We started out the school year looking at working as a team and involving the community," he said.

About 20 students were at the personal care home Monday to plant the kwanzan cherry blossom tree, which has double pink blossoms and leaves that turn copper in the fall. It's the first of what Lipnichan hopes will be dozens in the school district.

She said while the nonprofit's goal is to plant cherry blossom trees and other flowering trees, it has an added benefit of instilling leadership skills and a sense of civic responsibility in the students.

Monday's planting was in honor of a Japanese holiday, Respect for the Aged Day.

Mariah Collins, a senior and president of the Japanese club, was one of the ones helping at Monday's event. She said she's learned about the century-old exchange of flowering trees and the holiday in the club.

The Japanese culture views the elderly as full of wisdom and more deserving of respect than the American culture, she said.

"It helps them pay dues to (the elderly)," she said.

On the holiday last year, Lipnichan's Japanese classes and the Japanese club joined the Maridon Museum in a doll exchange with Westinghouse Electric Company/Toshiba and Chienkan High School.

Cherryish Our Communities will next donate books about cherry blossoms to the Foxburg Free Library, the Butler Library and the Butler Montisorri School.

The big event, however, will be in April when the Japanese club and Cherryish Our Communities will plant about 50 more cherry blossom trees at the care home.

Lipnichan's classes will study the communities and decide where other trees could be planted. Students then will present a plan to municipal leaders so plans can be implemented in future years. She said the students also will be eligible for national recognition for the hours they devote to the project.

McDeavitt said he is looking into grants to help purchase the 10-foot trees, which cost about $100 each. The elementary school also held a penny drive to raise funds.

As principal, he's made the cherry blossom the central theme for the school year.

For instance, he is distributing red handballs to students who do good works or accomplish a goal like perfect attendance. He said the ball, which represents the red sun on the Japanese flag, will promote positive behavior instead of being reactive to poor behavior.

Collins also pointed to the red handball program.

"We're trying to encourage students to join in and take responsibility," she said.