Hello! This is Morgan Haber from New York Branch.

As part of our SDGs effort to support Climate Action, the NY Branch partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to provide all employees with trees that can then be planted and provide benefits for the earth as they grow.

In conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation, the NY Branch provided trees that would do best in the environment selected to improve the chances of survival and provide the most benefit. Employees could obtain two trees for their own home or to a coworker/family member/friend or donate 5 trees to a forest in need.

As many of our employees do not have outdoor property space for a tree, forest donations were provided as an alternative.

Trees around homes reduce the amount of energy that the home requires and also adds to property value, reduce each individuals carbon footprint, improve the air quality, and more effectively catch stormwater runoff. It is our intention that this initiative will show our commitment to a greener, healthier community.

The Arbor Day Foundation allowed employees to select where the tree would be strategically planted for the largest environmental impact and energy savings. Annually based on the calculations, the Bank’s donations will save:

• $350 in energy costs;
• 26,094 gallons of stormwater runoff: [Stormwater runoff washes chemicals (oil, gasoline, salts, etc.) and litter from surfaces such as roadways and parking lots into streams, wetlands, rivers and oceans. The more impervious the surface (e.g., concrete, asphalt, rooftops), the more quickly pollutants are washed into our community waterways. Drinking water, aquatic life and the health of our entire ecosystem can be adversely affected by this process.]; and,
• 4,234 pounds of carbon emissions.

There were 47 trees provided to our employees/friends/family members and over 100 trees donated to a forest in need.