Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota Grant 75 Trees to Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Nationwide Campus Forestry Effort

Geneva, New York (April 14, 2012) – Students and staff at Hobart and William Smith Colleges planted 75 trees from the Arbor Day Foundation this afternoon, in celebration of the Colleges' commitment to improving tree care and sustainability.

The volunteer effort at Hobart and William Smith is among 13 tree planting events sponsored by the Foundation and Toyota during the spring of 2012 and one of seven co-sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE.

The trees were planted on the HWS campus near the statue of college founder and nurseryman William Smith. HWS' selection as a Tree Campus USA celebrates and recognizes the Colleges' commitment to natural resource conservation and greening initiatives.

Hobart senior Derek Weiss, a biology and environmental studies major who is a member of the HWS Tree Advisory Committee, helped plant the nearly 15 varieties of trees, including apple, pear, spruce and red maple.

"Hobart and William Smith Colleges are very committed to having a diverse landscape and are vigilant about adhering to a tree care plan that provides for the upkeep and replanting of two trees for every one that is removed," Weiss said. "It is an honor to have been a part of an event which allows us to continue William Smith's tradition of creating a sustainable and naturally beautiful landscape."

The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. Tree Campus USA is supported by a generous grant from Toyota.

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.

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 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.