TreeVitalize - Green Day for Eagles, City

The school kids wrote poems of thanks. The administrators of the Philadelphia School District showed their gracious appreciation. And those Philadelphia Eagles in attendance -- from players Michael Lewis and Sheldon Brown to Christina Weiss Lurie -- made sure everyone understood that, once again, the Eagles are more than about football.

The ceremony, held at Richard Wright Elementary School in North Philadelphia, was the official crowning of activity that took place three weeks ago when the planting of the trees started.

Wright Elementary is the first school within the Philadelphia School District to benefit from a $125,000 donation presented Tuesday by the Eagles.

The Eagles made the donation as part of the team's 'Go Green' initiative, championing care for the environment and recycling.

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"This is an important step for us," Weiss Lurie, President of Eagles Youth Partnership. "Go Green is only in its second year. We are learning every day, trying to spread the word about the importance of our environment and how we can all make a difference.

"We at the Eagles recognize our responsibility to the environment, both as an organization and as citizens. Recycling, using renewable resources and tree planting are all central to this effort. We are focusing our tree-planting at schools because we understand the relationship between healthy children and a healthy environment. We encourage other private businesses in our community to partner in this program, as well, to help TreeVitalize achieve its goals."

In November, as a result of the Eagles' donation, volunteers from Temple University and the Gibson Baptist Church planted 14 sugar maple trees in a grass strip that rings the asphalt schoolyard and parking lot. An additional six golden raintree and flowering cherry trees were planted at the church, adjacent to the school. Church members have agreed to help care for all the new trees.

"Over the next 20 years, these sugar maple trees will grow to tower 40 to 50 feet over this school, providing children with shade and greenery in an environment that is otherwise lacking natural beauty," said Michael Lester, assistant state forester for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, (DCNR) which oversees TreeVitalize.

"Studies have shown that exposure to green and nature is good for our children, and that views of trees and shrubs can increase concentration and reduce violence," Lester added.

According to mapping by DCNR, tree cover in this North Philadelphia neighborhood registers close to zero percent.

Third-grade students at Wright Elementary composed tree poems and adorned their new trees with paper decorations. The selection of school and park sites within the school district's elementary schools is underway. High priority will be given to those public elementary schools that are located in neighborhoods with low tree cover, have adequate spacing for at least 10 trees, and can link the planting to an environmental education program. Schools where community members are trained in tree care and are willing to help care for trees will be favored.

"On behalf of the 200,000 students in the Philadelphia School District and the School Reform Commission of Philadelphia, we would like to thank the Philadelphia Eagles for such a generous contribution to the TreeVitalize program," said Paul Vallas, Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia School District. "This program will provide trees to public schools so that teachers and students will use them to enhance the environment around their schools."

The Fairmount Park Commission, who oversees the planting and care of 250,000 street trees in Philadelphia, will manage the planting projects at the schools.

"The Fairmount Park Commission is so pleased to be partnering with the Eagles, the School District and the Commonwealth in the greening of our region," said Fairmount Park Interim Executive Director Karen Lloyd Borski. "For decades, Philadelphia has been recognized for its commitment to urban arboriculture and this wonderful program will continue to enhance that reputation."

TreeVitalize is designed to halt that loss and revitalize older communities, improve air and water quality and enhance the quality of life for citizens living in cities and towns. Studies have shown that even a single street tree can increase a home's value and lower its energy use. It will provide local governments, which many times lack urban forestry resources, with the financial and technical tools to encourage tree planting and stewardship.

In addition to coordinating resources to support tree plantings, TreeVitalize aims to train 2,000 volunteer citizens in proper tree care techniques. These citizens will organize future tree planting projects and educate homeowners on proper tree care and planting.

DCNR has partnered with the state Department of Environmental Protection; Aqua PA; Philadelphia Eagles; PECO, an Exelon Co.; U.S. Forest Service; PA Horticultural Society; Morris Arboretum; and PA Landscape and Nursery Association. TreeVitalize has reached more than half of its $8 million funding goal. The Commonwealth's contribution of $3 million is funded through DCNR and DEP.

For more information on TreeVitalize, log on to www.treevitalize.net. Philadelphia public elementary schools interested in participating in the TreeVitalize tree planting should contact the Fairmount Park Commission at (215) 683-0220. To learn more about the Eagles 'Go Green' initiative, visit www.gogreen-eagles.com.