State Farm and Arbor Day Foundation to Plant and Distribute Thousands of Urban-Area Trees in 15 Cities This Fall

LINCOLN, Nebraska (Sept. 21, 2021) – State Farm, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, will be holding more than a dozen tree planting and tree distribution events across the U.S. as part of State Farm’s 2021 nationwide urban planting campaign.  

This fall’s projects — located in 15 cities — focus on areas that have been significantly damaged by natural disasters including wildfires, major storms, and extended periods of extreme heat. For the next three months, State Farm will be engaging community volunteers and local employees across the country to plant and distribute more than 7,200 trees in an effort to replant in areas impacted by these weather events. 

“When building resilient communities after bouts with extreme weather, establishing a fortified urban tree canopy can provide so many benefits,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Partnering with companies like State Farm gives us the boost we need to really deliver these high-quality, socio-environmental moments that can really resonate among communities and educate people on how trees benefit us all. Without the help of State Farm, we wouldn’t be able to make the positive impacts we seek to provide.” 

After a natural disaster, trees slow stormwater runoff and prevent storm surge, can cool city areas by up to 10 degrees to brace against heatwaves, and purify the air by sequestering excess carbon dioxide. Trees also play an important role for cities, as more than 180 million people’s drinking water supply comes from forested areas in the U.S. alone. Additionally, urban trees can also help residents decrease their energy usage and reduce utility costs by shading homes in summer and blocking winds in winter. 

These autumn plantings and distributions follow several reforestation projects that were carried out by State Farm and the Arbor Day Foundation in Spring 2021. In total, more than 235,000 trees were planted in forests across the country that experienced a severe loss in canopy due to wildfires and hurricane damage.  

Through this partnership, State Farm upholds their neighborly ESG approach of “Building Strong Neighborhoods Together” by engaging residents through urban canopy development. These trees will provide multiple protections to homeowners and their communities by intercepting excess stormwater runoff, purifying air quality, providing shade in warmer months, reducing energy bills, and much more. Furthermore, these projects aim to inspire current and future generations to help strengthen our communities through collaborative efforts. 

For more information about the impact tree plantings have in urban areas, visit www.arborday.org. 

About State Farm® 

The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its 19,200 agents and 57,500 employees serve approximately 85 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 36 on the 2020 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.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. During the last 49 years, more than 400 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.