The Arbor Day Foundation's Hurricane Tree Recovery Campaign Marks 1st Anniversary Celebrating More Than 1.1 Million Trees Distributed and Planted

The Arbor Day Foundation continues toward 5 million-tree goal on public and private lands in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, restoring lost tree canopies

LINCOLN, Neb., October 2, 2018 – The Arbor Day Foundation's hurricane tree recovery campaign has marked its first anniversary, planting more than 1.1 million trees since the program's inception following the hurricane devastation in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. The initiative has engaged and mobilized public and private partners including Verizon, Texas Roadhouse, FedEx, Enterprise, Praxair, NASCAR and Comcast. To date, the Foundation has raised more than $2.2 million in hurricane support for affected forests and communities. The Arbor Day Foundation along with its partners and members are continuing to work toward the initial 5 million trees goal over the next four years.

In August and September of 2017, hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria left a path of devastation in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, damaging homes and critical infrastructure. The hurricanes also destroyed millions of trees in yards, parks and forests across the states and territory. Insurance will often cover the cost to rebuild structures, but not the trees and landscapes of a community. The Arbor Day Foundation began restoration with the first of its free tree distribution events in celebration of Florida's Arbor Day in Miami on January 20, 2018.

"The people of Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico suffered a great personal and physical loss from which they are still recovering," said Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation president. "By replanting, we strive to bring healing and hope to the people and the communities in which they live. Over time, these trees will restore the canopy and beauty to these cities. Our goal is to replant and distribute the 5 million trees in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico over the next four years."

Tree plantings and distributions will continue this fall for hurricane-affected homeowners in Houston, TX; Rockport, TX; Port Aransas, TX; Miami, FL; Delray Beach, FL; and Sarasota, FL. Please visit Community Tree Recovery to learn more.

For more information, or to see how you can donate or get involved with the Arbor Day Foundation's hurricane tree recovery campaign including helping those recently affected by Hurricane Florence, please visit https://fundraise.arborday.org/CTR.

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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 then, more than 300 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.
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.