Toyota Promises Three-Year $1.4 Million Sponsorship of MillionTreesNYC

MillionTreesNYC -- a public-private partnership between the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to plant and care for one million new trees in New York City by 2017 -- recently announced that Toyota has become a supporter in its mission to improve New York City's environment. In a three-year $1.4-million sponsorship with MillionTreesNYC, Toyota will support tree planting, public education and community outreach activities aimed at getting every New Yorker involved in tree planting and stewardship activities. Toyota joined with The Home Depot Foundation as a lead sponsor of the initiative and BNP Paribas as presenting sponsors of MillionTreesNYC Month.

"Toyota has responded loud and clear to the MillionTreesNYC call to action," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Their generous sponsorship to help plant and care for one million new trees in New York City over the next decade will contribute to the tangible 'greening' of our urban landscape in historic proportions. Toyota's generous financial contribution also sets a strong example of how businesses and corporations can help make New York City a healthier place for all to live."

Through a mix of public and private plantings, MillionTreesNYC - part of of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC - claims it will expand New York City's urban forest by 20%.  The trees will provide New York residents such positive benefits as more beautiful neighborhoods and parks; cleaner air and water; higher property values; energy savings; cooler summer streets, yards, and public open spaces; and help create a healthier, more environmentally sustainable city. MillionTreesNYC partners and citizen volunteers will plant the trees in places such as schoolyards and playgrounds, public housing campuses, business districts, commercial and residential developments, front yards, and other private lands.

"With the support and leadership of corporations like Toyota who are putting environmental initiatives at the forefront, we can truly change the landscape of this City and our planet," said Drew Becher, Executive Director of New York Restoration Project. "MillionTreesNYC is honored to have Toyota's ongoing support for our campaign."

Toyota has been a long-time supporter of environmental and tree-planting initiatives across the country. MillionTreesNYC is just one piece of Toyota's ongoing mission to support sustainable initiatives, particularly in communities where the company operates. "We are so proud to be a part of Million Trees NYC, because we know that trees are one of the most sustainable solutions for our environment," said Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America. "This initiative will bring lasting results that will help our environment for years and years to come."

During last month's MillionTreesNYC Month (April 2008), MillionTreesNYC launched a campaign encouraging New Yorkers to "think globally and plant locally" enlisting community, corporate, and youth volunteers from all five boroughs to roll up their sleeves and plant trees. Throughout the month, Parks, NYRP, and MillionTreesNYC partners hosted free citywide events for the public including tree education seminars, tree stewardship workshops, tree pruning instructional courses, Urban Park Ranger tree identification hikes, and large scale volunteer tree plantings.

You can find out more about the MillionTreesNYC program at http://www.nyc.gov/parks.

Jody DeVere
President
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