Youth volunteers plant trees in Indianapolis during National NeighborWoods Month

Tens of thousands of volunteers will take action to make their cities greener this October during National NeighborWoods™ Month, the annual celebration of trees in communities. In hundreds of cities from coast to coast, local residents and community leaders will plant and care for over 40,000 trees, educate the public about sustainability, and restore urban green spaces.

"People understand instinctively that trees are vital to creating safe and successful communities," said Ray Tretheway, president of Alliance for Community Trees, the national non-profit organization that coordinates National NeighborWoods™ Month. "That's why thousands of volunteers are signing up to plant trees with local organizations and city governments. They want to  make their communities greener, cleaner and healthier."

Trees "make good neighbors," as the saying goes: they have remarkable economic, environmental, and health benefits for neighborhoods and residents. For example:

• Just three strategically placed trees can reduce energy use and decrease utility bills by 50%.
• Trees and landscaping can improve residential property values up to 30% or more.
• Trees filter airborne pollutants and improve air quality.
• Children living in areas with more trees have lower prevalence of asthma.
• Trees make neighborhoods safer, reducing both crime and driving accidents.

"National NeighborWoods™ Month honors the work of local nonprofits to bring the many benefits of trees to residents of neighborhoods all across the country," said Carrie Gallagher, executive director of Alliance for Community Trees. "By partnering with homeowners, government agencies, and private businesses to plant trees, grassroots organizations are tangibly improving the health and livability of cities nationwide."

Volunteers are critical to these local community improvement efforts. Anyone who wants to make a difference in their neighborhood and take part in this national celebration of trees can get involved at www.NeighborWoodsMonth.org. National NeighborWoods™ Month 2012 is sponsored by Boise ASPEN Project UP, as well as CSX and TD Bank.

About Alliance for Community Trees

National NeighborWoods™ Month is a program of Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees). ACTrees is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and livability of cities by planting and caring for trees. With over 200 member organizations and network partners in 44 states and Canada, ACTrees engages volunteers to take action to improve the environment where 93% of people live: in cities, towns, and metropolitan areas. Together ACTrees member organizations have planted and cared for over 15 million trees in neighborhoods nationwide, with help from more than 5 million volunteers.

Alliance for Community Trees

Alliance for Community Trees

Alliance for Community Trees ((ACTrees)) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and livability of cities by planting and caring for trees. With over 200 member organizations and network partners in 44 states plus Canada, ACTrees engages volunteers to take action to improve the environment where 93% of people live - in cities, towns, and metropolitan areas. Together, ACTrees member organizations have planted and cared for over 15 million trees in neighborhoods nationwide, with help from over 5 million volunteers.

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