The Arbor Day Foundation's Texas Community Tree Recovery Campaign Distributes Free Trees to Local Texas Residents Affected by Hurricane Harvey

Arbor Day Foundation program helps rebuild and beautify communities one tree at a time

PORT ARANSAS, Texas, October 15, 2018 – The Arbor Day Foundation's Texas Tree Recovery Campaign – a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation, Texas Roadhouse and FedEx will distribute 1,000 new trees this year to homeowners in Port Aransas, Texas at the Old Town Festival on Saturday, October 20, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. The festival will be located at Port Aransas Community Center, 408 N. Alister St., Port Aransas, TX 78373. These new trees will be free of charge and help to replace trees damaged and destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. Local distribution partners include Texas Gulf Region Cooperative Weed Management Area, the City of Port Aransas, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute's Mission-Aransas Reserve and TX A&M Forest Service.

"The people of Texas have suffered great personal and physical loss," 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 as well as help return the beauty and the value trees bring back to their properties."

Arbor Day Foundation's Community Tree Recovery, a national program underwritten by FedEx and Foundation members, aims to replace trees in communities affected by natural disasters throughout the United States. The program has held more than 775 events, distributing more than 5 million trees since its inception in 2012.

"We're excited to partner with The Arbor Day Foundation to help rebuild this region's tree canopy," says Travis Doster, Texas Roadhouse Vice President of Communications. "With more than 70 locations across Texas, this project is especially meaningful to us and we hope to replicate the project across the country."

"Hurricane Harvey impacted the community of Port Aransas more than we will ever know. Efforts like this tree giveaway keep us moving forward," said Colleen Simpson, City of Port Aransas Nature Preserve Manager. "It's not always easy to see where the next step in recovery is, but when partners like this continue to offer their support and resources we continue to heal and that is the best direction we can hope for."

Hurricane Harvey was a category 4 storm that hit Texas on August 25, 2017. It caused $125 billion in damage according to the National Hurricane Center. Harvey made landfall three times in six days. At its peak on September 1, 2017, one-third of Houston was underwater. Two feet of rain fell in the first 24 hours. Flooding forced 39,000 people out of their homes and into shelters. More that 200,000 homes were damaged during the storm.

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. Their 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 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 Texas Roadhouse: Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993 and has more than 525 locations in 49 states and seven countries. The family-friendly restaurant is famous for hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread, and a lively atmosphere. Texas Roadhouse was consecutively voted #1 Steak by Nation's Restaurant News Consumer Picks Survey in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, Forbes Magazine recognized the company as one of America's Best Large Employers and most recently, Texas Roadhouse was ranked the #1 full-service restaurant by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) . For more information, visit www.texasroadhouse.com.

About the City of Port Aransas: The Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture encompasses 1,217 acres. The City of Port Aransas preserves this section of natural
habitat, enlisting the talents and ideas of many local residents and area agencies. The Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture is truly a gift for future generations – a sense of history, a study of habitat and an appreciation of nature at its best.

About the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve is managed by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute and brings together scientists, landowners, policy-makers, and the public to ensure that coastal management decisions benefit flora and fauna, water quality, and people.

About Texas A&M Forest Service: The Texas A&M Forest Service conserves and protects the resources and lands of the Lone Star State. Conserving Texas' trees and forests, the state agency helps property owners maintain land and natural resources to ensure forestlands remain productive and healthy not only for the environment, but for generations of Texans to come.

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