Nebraska City, Neb. (April 14, 2010) – The Arbor Day Foundation announced a new partnership today with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., to plant trees in our nation's forests. Through The Hartford's Project Re-Leaf, the company will make a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant a tree for each customer who opts for paperless delivery of their group benefits bill or mutual fund statement.
The Hartford has pledged a minimum donation of $10,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation, which will plant 10,000 trees in our nation's forests. These trees will be planted in a forest that has been devastated recently by wildfire, insects or disease.
"We applaud The Hartford's commitment to revitalizing our forests by planting trees," said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees planted by The Hartford's Project Re-Leaf will help restore habitat for wildlife, provide relief for our water supplies and restore our nation's forests for future generations to enjoy."
"The Hartford is excited to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation in a program designed to renew forests by cutting down on the use of paper and by planting trees," said Sharon Ritchey, executive vice president and director of operations, technology and eBusiness. "We are encouraging our customers to join our Project Re-Leaf and help us reach our target of 35,000 trees. Together we can help revive our nation's depleted forests."
The Hartford's paperless delivery campaign extends through year end for mutual funds clients and through March 31, 2011 for group benefits customers.
In addition, The Hartford will plant 200 trees on National Arbor Day, April 30, to help celebrate the company's bicentennial year. Trees will be planted at its offices in Alpharetta, Ga.; Hartford, Conn.; Maple Grove, Minn.; Overland Park, Kan.; Simsbury, Conn.; Windsor, Conn.; and Woodbury, Minn.
# # #
About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, conservation and education organization of more than one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.