(Video) Brentwood Rallies to Save Coral Trees

A sizable crowd gathered in the courtyard of the Brentwood Gardens shopping complex Saturday afternoon to raise funds for the maintenance of Brentwood's coral trees.

Actress Betty White said a few words and was honored by Brentwood Community Council chair Nancy Freedman; Jim Thomas, co-chair of the Brentwood Coral Tree Endowment Fund; and Flora Gil Krisloff, senior field deputy for L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

The Los Angeles City Council decided to cut maintenance funding for the coral trees that line San Vicente Boulevard, so the Brentwood Community Council has taken it upon itself to come up with the approximately $25,000 yearly cost.

"In so doing, we can feel comfortable that the trees will be cared for properly and that because they are the icon and basically what Brentwood is all about, on our main street, and keep them in good help and good shape," said Freedman.

Bright orange T-shirts reading "Brentwood 90049 Coral Tree Endowment Fund" were sold on the sidewalk near the shopping center courtyard.

"I know there are various people that we call on to help sometimes," White said. "But these are such personal friends that I think it's up to neighbor to neighbor and all of us individually to help as much as we can."

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