BRG says ‘May the Forest Be With You’ on May 4th with 1,000 FREE Trees, sponsored by Enterprise

Baton Rouge, La. – Baton Rouge Green is saying ‘May the forest be with you’ this May the 4th by distributing 1,000 trees to area residents. These new trees, in three-gallon containers, will be free of charge and help to replace trees damaged and destroyed by the 2016 flood, as well as help prepare for future weather events. The event is part of a program, the Enterprise Urban Initiative, sponsored by the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation.

This tree distribution is designed to help these affected residents replace trees lost to the flooding. Baton Rouge Green staff and Enterprise Rent-A-Car volunteers will be distributing the trees with planting kits from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Goodwood Library. Trees are limited to 2 per household.

All eight varieties of trees to be distributed are native species to South Louisiana: Cypress, Redbud, White Oak, Willow Oak, Dahoon Holly, Green Ash, Swamp Red Maple, and Sweetbay Magnolia.

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Enterprise Rent-A-Car – is pledging $2 million over the next two years to fund 40 community tree planting events happening around the country. This donation is in addition to Enterprise’s ongoing partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, known as the 50 Million Tree Pledge. Established in honor of the company’s 50th anniversary, the program funds the planting of 50 million trees throughout the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the U.K.

The Enterprise Urban Initiative builds on Enterprise Holdings’ commitment to supporting communities affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, hailstorms and other natural disasters. Each project is individually selected to prioritize immediate reforestation needs and to help restore ecosystems after natural disasters strike.

Between August 11 and August 14, 2016, more than 20 inches of rain fell in the region around Baton Rouge, LA. This deluge led to the flooding of more than 60,000 homes and the loss of 13 lives.

“The 2016 floods damaged homes and properties, and had a profound impact on our environment,” Said Robert Seemann, ISA, Director of Operations for Baton Rouge Green. “With this tree giveaway, Baton Rouge Green hopes to continue to help offset landscape damages and canopy loss in our area. Trees are also a crucial tool for stormwater management and removing pollutants from our soil and air.”

“This is about more than healing the land. Planting trees heals people and brings families together, especially in the wake of a crisis. It a symbol for benchmarking a chapter of life, putting down our own roots (pun intended) and growing forward,” said Sage Foley, Baton Rouge Green Executive Director.

For more information about the tree giveaway, see batonrougegreen.com.

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 Baton Rouge Green: Baton Rouge Green is a 501(C)3 organization which leads, educates and inspires the planting and sustaining of urban forests and green spaces. The organization is supported in large part by dedicated Baton Rouge community members, and local businesses and industry. Find out more at BatonRougeGreen.com.