The Arbor Day Foundation Honors Plant-for-the-Planet with Spirit of Arbor Day Award

Arbor Day Foundation Award Honors Youth-Led Tree Planting Initiative

Lincoln, Neb. (March 7, 2018) – The Arbor Day Foundation has announced today that Plant-for-the Planet has been awarded the Foundation's Spirit of Arbor Day Award which recognizes an organization or community that fulfills the Foundation's mission of inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees through programs and activities that have been implemented within the past five years. The award will be presented at Plant-for-the Planet's global youth summit in Monaco on Friday, March 9, 2018.

This worldwide network of young tree planters began with a school presentation by a nine-year-old German boy (Felix Finkbeiner), and today Plant-for-the-Planet is a global movement with an ambitious goal: to fight the climate crisis by planting trees around the world. Since the organization's inception, more than 15.2 million trees have been planted by youth worldwide.

"Plant-for-the Planet's 100,000 youth ambassadors serve as inspiration to the global tree planting community," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "We are thrilled to be able to recognize this international organization that so closely aligns with our mission and the spirit of the first Arbor Day, which occurred more than 140 years ago."

Since 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the inspiring and life-changing work of leading environmental stewards and tree planters through the annual Arbor Day Awards. Award winners from previous years include the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, the United States Forest Service and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

This award winner is one of six internationally being honored for their outstanding contribution to tree planting, conservation and stewardship. The remainder of the 2018 Arbor Day Award winners will be presented with their award during their local Arbor Day celebrations. More information can be found at CelebrateArborDay.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. Since 1972, more than 300 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our 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, through its members, partners and programs, 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.
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