Posted by
daver in
Go Green on
May 24, 2011 |
no responses With Oprah Winfrey wrapping up her 25 years on television this week, her final shows have been full of big announcements, usually with the help of some big celebrities and generous corporate partners.
It turns out that one of Kent’s own, Davey Tree, is one of those corporate partners that is teaming up with Oprah, and Target, to promote literacy by renovating libraries across the country and planting 25,000 trees in honor of Oprah’s longtime support for reading campaigns.
The trees offer something on multiple levels – one, they symbolically remind us that from small seeds grow mighty Oaks which is a metaphor for living and the heights that education and reading can take us; and two, there’s few places better to read, relax and play on a warm summer day than under the cover of a great tree.
Davey Tree is probably the only tree company big enough to pull off a job of this size with service coverage nationawide (and global) but more importantly Davey’s tree care expertise will make sure that the trees thrive.
On Monday’s show I caught a glimpse of Davey trucks and Davey employees digging in the dirt and planting a big Oak tree at one of libraries selected for this Oprah legacy project and I couldn’t help but feel hometown pride for this prominent longtime Kent based company.
Davey Tree has posted more details on their participation in the Oprah legacy project on their web site and I’m happy to share it. As the media picks up the project story line, people across the country will see by-lines from Kent Ohio and learn a little more about one of our best Kent ambassadors, Davey Tree.
________________________________
The Davey Tree Expert Company
News Release
For Immediate Release For additional information
May 24, 2011 Sandra Reid
330/673-9515, extension 349
Reading Takes Root
The Davey Tree Expert Company announces plans to bring more than 25,000 reading trees to communities across the country
Project announced on today’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show”
KENT, Ohio – Many people say their favorite place to read a book is under the cool shade of a tree canopy, whether it’s on their backyard patio, at the park or near a beach.
The Davey Tree Expert Company is honoring the 25-year legacy of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” by bringing that coveted experience to more communities across the country. In a program it calls “Reading Takes Root,” Davey will donate and plant 25 large oak trees on school grounds across the U.S. in conjunction with school library renovations carried out by Target and The Heart of America Foundation.
The initial live oak tree planting took place on May 16th at the KIPP Believe School in New Orleans, with footage of that installation appearing as a surprise to Winfrey on one of her show’s penultimate episodes, airing today, Monday, May 23. Throughout the year, Davey will also plant 25,000 more trees in communities across the country.
These trees will not only provide clean air and water, heating and cooling benefits and enhance community and property values, but they will also provide the children of these schools with shaded play areas, chances to see science in action and quiet places to read. As these trees continue to grow in good health, they will give these children chances to foster healthy bodies and healthy minds by providing places to play and learn – all driving the growth of happier, healthier communities.
“Davey is honored to celebrate ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ in this socially responsible initiative to plant reading trees for children in communities across the country,” says Karl Warnke, Davey’s chairman, president and CEO. “As these trees take root, we also hope the air will become cleaner, the cooling effects of shade will become broader, and the environmental and economic future of our nation’s communities will strengthen.”
For more information, go to www.davey.com/ReadingTakesRoot.
The Davey Tree Expert Company, with U.S. and Canadian operations in 45 states and five provinces, provides a variety of tree care, grounds maintenance and consulting services for the residential, commercial, utility and government markets. Founded in 1880, Davey is employee owned and has more than 7,000 employees who provide Proven Solutions for a Growing World. For more information, visit www.davey.com.
