2021 TD Green Space Grant Recipients to Build Resilience in Underserved Communities
date 04/20/21
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Jeff Salem, Director of Communications & Public Relations, emailLINCOLN, Nebraska and TORONTO, Ontario (April 20, 2021) – TD Bank Group (TD) and the Arbor Day Foundation today announced the 2021 grant recipients of the TD Green Space Grants program. The program will provide a total of US $400,000 to support green infrastructure in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequities, including the limited access to green spaces in urban neighbourhoods and the corresponding lack of tree canopies in these areas. As the pandemic has prompted people to spend more time outdoors, members of these communities have been more restricted in their ability to seek out green spaces safely.
"Green spaces form the backbone of our communities and play an essential role in supporting our physical and mental health," said Andrea Barrack, Global Head, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. "In collaboration with Arbor Day Foundation, we're working to increase equal access to green spaces and build resiliency in some of the communities most affected by the pandemic. By making green spaces more accessible to all, we're helping create healthier, more inclusive and sustainable urban cities."
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the depth of existing environmental inequities and injustice,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “More than ever before, it is critical to ensure that all people, regardless of age, race, ability, or income level, can access trees and green space as a crucial resource for health, recreation, and climate resiliency.”
The following twenty cities in the United States and Canada will each receive a TD Green Space Grant of $20,000 USD:
United States:
- Burlington, Vermont
- East Providence, Rhode Island
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Newburgh, New York
- New Castle, Delaware
- Orlando, Florida
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Queens, New York
Canada:
- Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Milton, Ontario
- Mississauga, Ontario
- Montreal, Quebec
- Montreal North, Quebec
- Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
- New Westminster, British Columbia
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Surrey, British Columbia
- Toronto, Ontario
TD provides funding for these grants, which are awarded annually, and the Arbor Day Foundation administers the program. TD Green Space Grants are part of the TD Ready Commitment, TD's global corporate citizenship platform. Established in 2019, the program has served 38 communities through 40 planting projects. These projects have collectively planted or distributed over 11,000 trees or shrubs and engaged nearly 4,000 community members.
In 2021, funding will be granted to 20 municipalities that are driving programs aligned to the theme Building Resilience: Green infrastructure solutions for communities disproportionally impacted by Covid-19. To be eligible for a grant, qualified municipalities had to be located within TD's operating footprint in the United States and Canada. Priority was given to projects occurring in underserved areas of local communities. For communities applying within the United States, preference was given to currently recognized Tree City USA® communities or those who expressed interest in becoming a Tree City USA community over the next calendar year.
For more information, visit arborday.org/programs/tdgreenspacegrants.
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 TD Global Corporate Citizenship
TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $750 million*) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit www.td.com/tdreadycommitment.