|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
On Saturday, June 24, Million Trees Miami-Dade County, with the support of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Tree Recovery program and State Farm, will be distributing 550 trees for free at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium beginning at 9 a.m. until supplies run out. The Foundation’s Tree Recovery Program funds aims to reestablish neighborhood trees lost to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Irma, which devastated the county’s tree canopy in 2017.
“Planting trees is one of the best ways to protect our communities from extreme heat and climate change, and we are extremely grateful to State Farm and the Arbor Day Foundation for contributing to our goal of expanding Miami-Dade’s tree canopy,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This is a wonderful example of how we’re collaborating with valuable partners to increase our residents’ quality of life and build a more resilient, future-ready Miami-Dade.”
“I am thrilled that we have such willing and able community partners who contribute to rebuilding our neighborhoods,” said Miami-Dade County District 5 Commissioner Eileen Higgins. “The trees being distributed offer hope and healing to communities that have been affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters.”
The Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit dedicated to planting trees. The Foundation’s Community Tree Recovery Program identifies and helps communities affected by natural disasters by relying on a vast network of local community tree-planting organizations.
“We plant trees for many different reasons; they clean the air, purify the water, provide a home for wildlife, etc.,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We can also plant trees to restore hope to a community that is healing. We believe in the hope that planting a tree provides for the future.”
Since its inception, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Tree Recovery national program, underwritten by FedEx and foundation members, has held more than 1,050 events, distributing more than 5.3 million trees together with private partners like State Farm.
“State Farm is committed to helping communities recover from disasters and manage future risks,” said Apsara Sorensen, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Director. “We are proud to support tree planting as part of this effort.”
This event is part of Miami-Dade County’s overall goal to achieve a 30 percent tree canopy cover by 2030, a key component of Mayor Levine Cava’s Climate Action Strategy and Heat Action Plan to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat produced by climate change.
“Miami-Dade Parks is always grateful for the opportunity to work with environmentally conscious corporations like State Farm through our amazing national partner, Arbor Day Foundation, in our efforts towards fulfilling the Million Trees Miami-Dade County goal of attaining a 30 percent canopy county-wide,” said Miami-Dade County Parks Director Maria I. Nardi. “These 550 trees will provide tangible benefits and a more livable community for our residents while tapping into the largest segment of available greenspace in our community, people’s own backyards.”
To donate to the recovery efforts supported by this campaign or others across the country please visit arborday.org/recovery.
About the Arbor Day Foundation:
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.
As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.
About State Farm®:
For 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been and continues to be to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and approximately 53,400 employees serve over 87 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 42 on the 2022 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.
About Million Trees Miami-Dade County and Neat Streets Miami-Dade County:
Launched by Neat Streets Miami-Dade County, the Million Trees Miami-Dade County initiative is a community-wide effort to achieve a 30 percent tree canopy cover for Miami-Dade County. Neat Streets Miami-Dade County is a multi-jurisdictional board dedicated to the promotion of ecological and human health by creating and maintaining sustainable, beautiful, clean, and environmentally equitable spaces countywide.
About Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces:
Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 287 parks and 40,000+ acres of parks and natural areas, comprised of active, passive parklands and nature preserves. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world and focused on placemaking, health and fitness, and conservation and stewardship. Miami-Dade Parks is a recipient of numerous awards, both as an agency as a whole and for the accomplishments of its individual facilities and programs. It is one of only 199 park and recreation agencies to be CAPRA-accredited. It is also a two-time recipient of the Governor’s Sterling Award and the National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award for demonstrated excellence in long-range planning, resource management and agency recognition, among other accolades.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter or visit our website for the latest news and updates from Miami-Dade County Parks! @Miami-Dade Parks.
