ACTrees Webcast Series Points Score : Partnering with Professional Sports Teams

A Resource List ______

ACTrees WEBCAST SERIES

The ACTrees Webcast Series is a webcast held at the lunch hour on the third Thursday of each month. The goal is to provide training opportunities for local urban and community practitioners. The trainings highlight successful programs and practices that you may want to adopt in your communities. Webcasts are open to all.

Correctly planting and protecting trees is a good thing to do. However, planting and protecting trees also requires coordinating time and resources. ACTrees minimizes such requirements by sharing the innovative ideas and organized approaches of successful projects and models for members to replicate. We invite you to join Alliance for Community Trees for more ways to get involved. Together, we create a strong voice on behalf of the urban and make a great difference in the health, beauty, and livability of our communities. We strengthen communities by offering action-oriented approaches that bring people together around a common purpose.

TOPIC

Partnering with area sports teams is one great way to score more trees for your community. Local nonprofits are hosting plantings with baseball, soccer, football, and hockey teams to enhance urban canopies across the country. Professional teams realize how vital it is to maintain the health of surrounding area environments and are now joining forces with local nonprofits to green their communities. As a result, planting trees for goals, baskets, and home runs has proved a win for fans of teams and fans of trees.

TRAINERS

Jimmy Owens Greg Tudor Vice President Business Development Development Manager Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Friends of Trees 100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor 3117 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Philadelphia, PA Portland, OR (215) 988-8800 (503) 282-8846 [email protected] [email protected]

Jimmy Owens joined the Development team at Pennsylvania Horticultural Society this year. He previously worked at New York Restoration Project, where he spent over 5 years as Director of Corporate Giving creating the program, communications, and fundraising strategies for MillionTreesNYC, overseeing the corporate volunteer program and corporate funding relationships.

Greg Tudor has been the Development Manager at Friends of Trees, focusing on Corporate and Foundation Fundraising for the past three years. Prior to that, he managed the Volunteer & Outreach Program, working with many of the same corporate partners. An Oregon transplant and native Chicagoan, Greg enjoys exploring the of Western Oregon with his girlfriend and their two dogs.

Alliance for Community Trees | 6856 Eastern Ave, NW, Ste 150, Washington, DC 20012 Page 1 202-291- (8733) (p) | 202-291-1433 (f) | [email protected] | www.ACTrees.org

ACTrees Webcast Series Points Score Trees: Partnering with Professional Sports Teams

A Resource List ______

SUCCESS STORIES—PROGRAMS

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (Philadelphia, PA) In 2013, The Phillies partnered with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for a 2nd consecutive year on PHS’ effort to plant one million trees. For each home run hit by a Phillies player during the season, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society planted one tree in Philadelphia area parks, neighborhoods, and watershed. Last year, thanks to the Home Runs for Trees program, 158 new trees were planted in the region. The trees will mitigate stormwater runoff, cool temperatures, and boost canopy coverage. For more information: http://actrees.org/what-we-do/training-and-conferences/events/sports-teams-planting-trees/

Friends of Trees (Portland, OR) Since their inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2011, the Portland Timbers have held a yearly . Every time the Timbers soccer team scored a goal, they partnered with Friends of Trees to plant one tree through their Score a Goal, Plant a Tree program. Timbers players have joined local community volunteers in planting trees through the program. To date, the partnership has contributed 2,000 trees and shrubs to the in the Portland metro region. For more information: http://actrees.org/what-we-do/training-and-conferences/events/sports-teams-planting-trees/

TreeUtah (Murray, UT) TreeUtah, Salt Lake County's 1 Million Trees for 1 Million People program, AT&T and the Utah Jazz planted 10 cottonwood trees at the Kennecott Nature Center in Murray, UT with local high students in April 2013. During a halftime ceremony at the Utah Jazz’s April 9th game, AT&T officials presented TreeUtah and Salt Lake County with a donation to support planting efforts. To get residents jazzed about planting trees at home, the first 10,000 fans in attendance also received free tree saplings. More information: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865577837/Photo-gallery-Utah-Jazz-students-plant-trees-in-Salt-Lake-County.html

MillionTreesNYC (New York, NY) The New York Knicks partnered with MillionTreesNYC and PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of the “Trees for Threes” program. MillionTreesNYC is a citywide, public-private program of the NYC Parks Department and the New York Restoration Project to plant and care for one million new trees across the City's five boroughs. During each home game of the 2012-13 NBA season, PricewaterhouseCoopers donated two trees for every three pointer scored by the Knicks. During the season, the Knicks were near the top of the league in three pointers made, and due to their hot shooting, MillionTreesNYC planted 1,000 trees and 340 shrubs in Van Cortlandt Park. More information at: http://www.nba.com/knicks/treesforthrees

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Green Bay, WI) The Green Bay Packers, U.S. Forest Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Public Service partnered for the First Downs for Trees program. For each Packer first down, a monetary donation dedicated to tree planting is made. Now in its third year, 2,000 total trees have been planted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, providing an estimated 9.98 million dollars in community benefits. In 2013 alone, 749 trees were donated and planted in 19 local communities. More information at: http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Packers-First-Downs-For-Trees-plants-749-trees-in- local-communities/abd27c44-5f93-4a79-9e9b-d60c3ef1cc9a

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Milwaukee, WI) In 2013, the Milwaukee Brewers teamed up with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a 3rd consecutive year for the “Root, Root, Root For The Brewers Plant-A-Tree” program. The Brewers pledge to purchase one tree for every 20,000 tickets sold to offset the trees used to print the tickets. After selling nearly 3 million tickets during the 2012 season, the Brewers planted 142 trees along the Hank Aaron State Trail in Milwaukee. The trail runs along the Menomonee River, and the trees will help improve air and water quality in this former industrial area. More information at: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/fan_forum/green.jsp

Alliance for Community Trees | 6856 Eastern Ave, NW, Ste 150, Washington, DC 20012 Page 2 202-291-TREE (8733) (p) | 202-291-1433 (f) | [email protected] | www.ACTrees.org

ACTrees Webcast Series Points Score Trees: Partnering with Professional Sports Teams

A Resource List ______

Minnesota State Parks and Trails (Minneapolis, MN) Break a Bat, Plant a Tree is an innovative partnership between Minnesota State Parks and Trails and the Minnesota Twins that gives both sports fans and outdoor enthusiasts good reasons to cheer. Every time a Twins pitcher breaks the bat of an opposing player during the season, the Twins commit to plant 100 trees in a Minnesota state park, recreational area, or along a Minnesota state trail. So far, 51,800 trees have been planted as a result of this partnership. Break a Bat, Plant a Tree promotes outdoor recreation and environmental responsibility and raises awareness about projects underway in Minnesota state parks and trails. More information at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/breakabat.html

Denver’s Mile High Million Tree Initiative (Denver, CO) The Denver Nuggets partnered with Denver’s Mile High Million Tree Initiative and Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care to aid in the city’s goal of adding one million new trees to metropolitan Denver by the year 2025. The initiative aimed to engage and motivate area residents to become life-long stewards of their local green infrastructure through planting and caring for trees. During each home game during the 2009-10 NBA season, Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care donated a tree for every three pointer scored by the Denver Nuggets. This public private partnership will help build a healthier and more extensive urban forest in Denver, creating more inviting places to live, work and play. More information at: http://www.nba.com/nuggets/community/tree_planting_ceremony_033110.html

Friends of Edwin Warner Park (Nashville, TN) The Nashville Sounds, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville Parks staff, and Friends of Edwin Warner Park gathered at Edwin Warner Park to plant trees as part of the “Swing for the Trees” program. During the Sounds home games, trees were donated for every game where there was at least one broken bat. Following the 2012 season, volunteers planted 50 trees at Donelson Middle School to replace some of the trees used to make baseball bats. The new trees were also planted in a riparian zone along Stones River to increase wildlife habitat, prevent erosion, and increase water quality. More information: http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/4/5/248302/Swing-For-The-Trees-Has-Planting-Event.aspx

City of Madison Parks Department (Madison, WI) In 2011, the Madison Mallards began a season-long promotion with local landscaper Barnes, Inc. and the City of Madison Parks Department to plant one tree in a city park every time the Mallards break a bat during home games. Over 35 trees were donated through the program. The trees were planted on Earth Day following the season and increased awareness of the ecological impact that the Emerald Ash Borer has on the tree population in the City of Madison Parks. The new trees will add diversity to Madison’ canopy and prevent future infestations. More information at: http://www.mallardsbaseball.com/mallards-to-plant-a-tree-every-time-a-bat-is-broken.html

Alliance for Community Trees | 6856 Eastern Ave, NW, Ste 150, Washington, DC 20012 Page 3 202-291-TREE (8733) (p) | 202-291-1433 (f) | [email protected] | www.ACTrees.org

ACTrees Webcast Series Points Score Trees: Partnering with Professional Sports Teams

A Resource List ______

ENVIRONMENTALLY AFFILIATED SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS

Greenscape of Jacksonville & National Football League (Jacksonville, FL) Greenscape of Jacksonville partnered with the National Football League, the University of North Florida, the City of Jacksonville and the Super Bowl XXXIX Host Committee to plant 1,000 pine seedlings on the University of North Florida campus. The new trees will cool temperatures during the hot summer months, mitigate stormwater runoff, and make Jacksonville more resilient to future storms and hurricanes. The University of North Florida will maintain this grove of seedlings and use it as a living laboratory to educate their students. More information at: http://actrees.org/resources/local-resources/greening-success-stories/the_super_bowl-_working_with_the_nfls_carbon/

New Jersey Tree Foundation & National Football League (New York & New Jersey) The NY/ NJ Super Bowl XLVIII Host Committee, National Football League, and the New Jersey Tree Foundation combined forces to create the largest tree planting project in Super Bowl history in response to the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy in New York and New Jersey. More than 27,000 trees and shrubs were planted throughout the five boroughs and ten New Jersey counties from September to October of 2013. Other partners included the MillionTreesNYC campaign, NYC Parks, and Verizon. More information at: http://www.nynjsuperbowl.com/press-releases

Tree Pittsburgh, New Jersey Tree Foundation & National Hockey League (Pittsburgh, PA & Newark, NJ) The National Hockey League partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council to form NHL Green, a national program to help areas near hockey venues be greener. Among the program’s different projects, NHL Green organized a Legacy Tree Project to celebrate the 2012 NHL Draft including a planting with Tree Pittsburgh to plant 30 trees near Consol Energy Center, the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the location for the 2012 Draft. The trees represent each NHL teams’ commitment to environmentalism. The program continued in 2013 with a tree planting in Newark, NJ where the New Jersey Devils partnered with the New Jersey Tree Foundation. More information at: http://treepittsburgh.org/news/nhl-legacy-tree-project-plants-hill-district & http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=675552

Trees Atlanta & Olympics (Atlanta, GA) In celebration of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA, Trees Atlanta worked with congressional staff, local corporations and foundations to raise funds to plant 2,000 trees along the Olympic corridors and venues. The major stakeholders were the federal government and Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. In a public private partnership, Trees Atlanta planted trees in parking lots, in parks, and on private property to provide shade from the summer heat and mitigate stormwater runoff. More information at: http://actrees.org/resources/local-resources/greening-success-stories/working_with_the_olympic_games_to_plant_trees/

Trees for Houston & Major League Baseball (Houston, TX) When Major League Baseball’s All Star Game came to Houston in 2004, the Mayor’s office tapped Trees for Houston to help coordinate the renewal and greening of the downtown area. Trees for Houston coordinated the planting of more than 4,000 trees, helping Houston become more sustainable. Trees for Houston helped organize a massive cleanup of downtown sidewalks and properties in addition to two years of maintenance and watering for the trees. Trees for Houston worked with many diverse stakeholders in coordinating the planting including landscape contractors and several other local nonprofits. More information at: http://actrees.org/resources/local-resources/greening-success-stories/major_league_baseballs_all_star_game/

Alliance for Community Trees | 6856 Eastern Ave, NW, Ste 150, Washington, DC 20012 Page 4 202-291-TREE (8733) (p) | 202-291-1433 (f) | [email protected] | www.ACTrees.org

ACTrees Webcast Series Points Score Trees: Partnering with Professional Sports Teams

A Resource List ______

NASCAR Green Clean Air Program (Richmond, VA) The Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, VA, hosts two Sprint Cup races annually and partnered with the NASCAR Green Clean Air Program to plant 10 trees for each green flag that drops during races. Research has shown that planting 10 trees captures 100% of the carbon produced by each race. The trees clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and pollutants which can cause asthma and other respiratory problems. The program launched at 11 tracks in the 2009 and has now expanded to 26 tracks nationwide. More information at: http://www.rir.com/Articles/2012/11/Tree-Planting.aspx

Major League Soccer (nationwide) Major League Soccer has created a league-wide effort to illustrate MLS’ commitment to environmentalism in partnership with Continental Tire. During “Greener Goals Week,” Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) were purchased from Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset 100% of the electricity used at MLS stadiums during home matches during Earth Week April 16-23. In addition, many of the clubs throughout the league do their own part in their local communities to participate in sustainable projects in support of Earth Day. The clubs in the attached list have already shown commitment to the environmental effort and may be of interest to contact if you are looking for partners in your area. More information at: http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/major-league-soccer-and-continental-tire-join-forces-green-our-game

Major League Baseball (nationwide) Major League Baseball is the first professional sports league in the United States to design and implement an environmental data collection system, to collect and analyze stadium operations data, as well as encourage teams to share information about their environmental efforts and successes. The MLB Green Track system—developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Commissioner’s Office, and the MLB IT team—is already being used by most professional baseball teams to track energy use, water use, waste management and recycling, and paper purchasing. Greening projects may also fit in this initiative because of the energy and water quality benefits of trees. More information at: http://www.nrdc.org/greenbusiness/guides/sports/mlb.asp

National Basketball Association (nationwide) National Basketball Association partnered with Sprint and the Natural Resources Defense Council and pledged to offset more than 10 million pounds of CO2 during NBA Green Week April 4-12, 2013. NBA Green Week included community environmental projects, recycling programs, and energy efficiency initiatives along with giveaways to encourage fans to go green. In conjunction with Green Week, the NBA launched Mosaic, an online tool that measures environmental impact. In partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council and Renewable Choice Energy, Mosaic will allow all NBA teams and venues to track, analyze and identify cost savings opportunities within their environmental footprint. Greening projects may also fit in this tracking of carbon footprint and energy use savings. More information at: http://www.nba.com/green/

Alliance for Community Trees | 6856 Eastern Ave, NW, Ste 150, Washington, DC 20012 Page 5 202-291-TREE (8733) (p) | 202-291-1433 (f) | [email protected] | www.ACTrees.org