Joplin Tree Recovery Campaign Brings Trees to Tornado-Impacted Residents in Four Locations

Joplin, Missouri (April 21, 2012) – The Joplin Tree Recovery Campaign, a joint initiative of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center, is distributing 12,000 trees to residents in four Joplin-area locations today.

The Joplin Tree Recovery Campaign, launched last fall, aims to support recovery and help restore the tree-lined streets, shaded parks and beautiful neighborhoods that have always been part of Joplin, as they were before the May tornados.

Today, 12,000 trees are being distributed at Parr Hill Park, South Main Street and Cunningham Park in Joplin, as well as City Hall in Duquesne. The tree species include 3,000 each of the eastern redbud, white dogwood, sugar maple and northern red oak, all native to the region.

Supporters are encouraged to donate to the campaign, which is ongoing, by visiting arborday.org/Joplin.

"We are excited to return to Joplin to help residents as they rebuild their community," said Dan Lambe, vice president of programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. "Planting trees is a powerful and inspiring experience that will bring life back to this great city."

The Joplin Tree Recovery Campaign has attracted tremendous support from individuals, private foundations and corporate sponsors across the nation and globe, including The Davey Tree Expert Company, Wells Fargo, Trinity Oaks and the CNA Foundation.

The Arbor Day Foundation's "Trees for America" Emergency Recovery Program has become a growing resource for community tree recovery following natural disasters. Prior to this year's tornados, the Foundation delivered more than 120,000 trees to Gulf Coast families impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The Foundation has also planted more than 30 million trees in our nation's forests devastated by disease and fire, and continues to assist families in northern Alabama through its Alabama Tree Recovery Campaign.
About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org, or by visiting us on Facebook, Twitter or our blog.