Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Working with Arbor Day Foundation to Train Environmental Leaders, Promote Tree Campus USA Status

03/26/12
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. are working in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to launch an aggressive campaign to encourage sustainability and tree planting at Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.

Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha are teaming up to help collegiate members become environmental leaders on their respective campuses and ultimately achieve Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation. Tree Campus USA is sponsored by generous donation from Toyota.

The campaign entails planting 25-50 trees on each of seven campuses, including Kentucky State University, Wilberforce University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, the University of South Florida, Texas Southern University and Hampton University.

"These events are a chance for us to give back to our campuses and the broader community through walking the walk on sustainability," said Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr., President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

"By taking the conservationist spirit to more campuses and training tomorrow's environmental leaders, Alpha Phi Alpha is bringing its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to exciting new heights," said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.

During 2011, the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota helped campuses throughout the country plant 30,000 trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities have invested more than $22 million in campus forest management. More information about the Tree Campus USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.

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About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.

About Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities. Founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 600 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Visit apa1906.net and follow on Twitter @apa1906net work. For more information about the Alpha Goes Green initiative contact AGG's National Coordinator, Mr. King at 202.688.5044 or email [email protected]. visit green.apa1906.net

About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1908 in Washington, DC. It is the oldest, Greek-lettered organization established by African-American, college-trained women. With a membership of approximately 260,000 college-educated women, its purpose is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic standards, and to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women. The history includes a legacy of service and focuses on health, education, family, leadership, economics, humanities, business and the global community. The membership expands across all professions, including engineering, economics, computer science, business, accounting, law, healthcare and education. Members also serve on regional, national boards and committees throughout the globe.

About Toyota: Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed over half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/philanthropy.