The Living Memorial Tree Planting Program of the Batesville Casket Company, Batesville, Indiana, received one of five 1999 Project Awards in recognition of outstanding collaborative projects involving tree planting and environmental stewardship. As part of this program, the company plants a tree in a national forest for every casket or cremation urn purchased. Since the program's creation 22 years ago, more than seven million commemorative trees have been planted. The Chesapeake Bay Youth Conservation Corps of Chesapeake, Virginia, winner of a 1999 Project Award. The nonprofit program currently works with more than 300 at-risk young people, teaching them the importance of environmental stewardship and good work habits. Projects include restoring stream-side forests, recycling Christmas trees, and other tree planting efforts. The New York City Parks and Recreation Department, winner of a 1999 Project Award for such exemplary efforts as the New York City Tree Census and the Green Streets of New York program. The census involved 700 volunteers and resulted in an inventory of every street tree in New York's five boroughs, while the Green Streets program converted paved, unused street properties into green spaces. The Rotary Greenway Project of Indianapolis, Indiana, winner of a 1999 Project Award in recognition of its massive, one-day planting project to beautify a 50-block area of Indianapolis. After two years of planning, on June 6, 1998, more than 3,000 participants from 100 countries planted 12,000 plants, including 700 trees. The Omaha World-Herald Branching Out Program, Omaha, Nebraska, winner of a 1999 Project Award in honor of its leadership in replacing trees destroyed by the October 26, 1997 snow and ice storm. Less than a week after the storm, the World-Herald launched Branching Out to help restore tens of thousands of trees. The program also includes public education components, with much of the information being passed on to states and towns in the Northeast and other storm-damaged regions. Leaders in tree planting and environmental stewardship from around the country and world were honored by The Arbor Day Foundation at its 27th annual Arbor Day Awards celebration held in Nebraska City, Nebraska, on Saturday, May 1, 1999. Award winners are recognized for their leadership in the cause of tree planting, conservation, and environmental stewardship. The awards ceremony was part of the annual Arbor Day weekend celebration held in Nebraska City from April 30 - May 2. |
