PHILADELPHIA – August 2, 2017 – Want to make a difference in your neighborhood from the ground up? TreePhilly is partnering with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, to offer grants to Philadelphia community groups and local businesses to distribute free trees to residents in Philadelphia neighborhoods. Now in its fourth year, TreePhilly’s Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grants help restore the city’s urban forest. TreePhilly is offering five grants for Fall 2017 that are each worth $500, plus 50 to 100 trees for each local organization that is selected to host yard tree giveaways in their neighborhoods this Fall.
“TD’s partnership with TreePhilly reflects our shared commitment to nurturing urban tree canopies and green spaces, which produce clear environmental benefits and connect people and the community with nature,” said Joseph Doolan, Head of Environmental Affairs, TD Bank. “Trees do more than beautify urban communities – they produce oxygen, reduce airborne pollution and smog, lower energy costs and enhance the quality of life.”
Grant recipients will have the opportunity to provide free trees – including fruit trees, flowering trees, and shade trees – to their constituents at special events throughout October and November. Grantees will receive $500, as well as event planning and educational support from TreePhilly. All community groups and businesses that serve Philadelphians – including civic associations, community development corporations, nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations, and local businesses – are invited to apply, but only not-for-profit organizations and groups with a fiscal sponsor are eligible to receive the $500 award.
TreePhilly launched its innovative Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grant Program in Fall 2014, and has since awarded 33 grants to 51 community groups, who have given away a total of 2,445 trees. “We are incredibly happy about the success of the Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grants,” says Erica Smith Fichman, TreePhilly Program Manger at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
“We love partnering with local groups to provide free trees to their community. It has been an incredibly powerful way to reach new audiences and create urban forestry advocates across the city.”
Since 2012, TreePhilly has given out over 18,500 free yard trees to Philadelphians through its many programs. TreePhilly’s efforts are in direct response to the City of Philadelphia’s sustainability goal to increase tree canopy coverage to 30% in all neighborhoods by planting street trees and yard trees. TreePhilly is a program of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and TD Bank.
Applications for the Fall 2017 Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grants are due Friday, August 25th, 2017. For more information or to apply, visit treephilly.org, email treephilly@phila.gov, or call (215) 683-0233.