ASHEVILLE, N. C., December 5, 2024 /3BL/ - This month, the first of 10 million trees pledged by the Arbor Day Foundation to accelerate tree recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton will be handed out in Asheville. The Arbor Day Foundation will work in collaboration with local planting partner, Asheville Greenworks and funding partners, Bank of America and MathWorks.

“Asheville was undoubtedly among the most impacted by the back-to-back hurricanes this fall. Yet, in the wake of such immense disaster, hope still stands,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Our team has been awed by the resilience of Asheville Greenworks and their eagerness to replant trees following Helene and Milton. We’re grateful to be in a position to empower these tree champions and lead on tree recovery efforts in Asheville and the many other communities and forestlands hit by these hurricanes. We know the road to full recovery is long, but we’re going to be there every step of the way, ready with millions of trees.”

By the end of December, 1,200 free trees will have been made available for reservation online at ashevillegreenworks.org/shop.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s pledge to help restore tree canopy in the six states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton will bring 10 million trees to the region over the next four years. The Foundation has been heavily invested in assisting disaster-affected communities and forestlands since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005 and has planted and distributed millions of trees as a result. The work has aided recovery efforts following hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods.

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

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