235,000 Trees and Growing: TD Tree Days Sprouts up from Campbell River to St. John's

–50,000 trees to be planted as part of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation's annual urban greening program–

TORONTO, Aug. 31, 2016 /CNW/ - TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) is calling on volunteers from coast-to-coast to plant the seeds for another year of urban greening with the seventh annual TD Tree Days. As part of the flagship program, 50,000 trees will be added to the Canadian landscape at more than 150 community plantings throughout September and October, including 18 accessibility and diversity plantings.

"Urban parks and green spaces are where we meet, relax and play. They are critical to making our cities and towns more vibrant and livable," said Karen Clarke-Whistler, Chief Environment Officer, TD Bank Group. "TD Tree Days encourages people from all communities and of all abilities to get together to green where they live, while helping grow and care for our urban forests."

TD Tree Days is a grassroots community tree planting program that provides TD employees and their families, customers and community partners with the opportunity to support local environmental stewardship. TD collaborates with dozens of organizations, including municipalities, conservation authorities and Aboriginal communities, to support local plantings with expertise to ensure proper planting to promote health and longevity. Since 2010, more than 20,000 volunteers have helped plant 235,000 trees in 120 communities across Canada.

As part of TD's broader commitment to diversity and inclusion, this year's events include 10 plantings for the Deaf community, one for individuals who are blind or have low vision and seven in Indigenous communities. During the accessible tree plantings TD provides American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and pairs sighted volunteers with blind or low vision volunteers.

"Everyone should have the opportunity to get involved and give back to the community and we are thrilled that TD has made accessible tree plantings a priority," said Suzanne Decary, Regional Manager, Service and Operations, Canadian National Institute for the Blind. "Trees provide so many benefits to the environment, our communities and our well-being, and we can't wait to help make a difference with TD FEF."

Visit tdtreedays.com to learn more about TD Tree Days, find local events and register to volunteer.  Follow TD FEF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on #TDTreeDays and #GreenWhereYouLive.

About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
From schoolyard naturalization and energy conservation, to tree plantings and environmental education, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) is proud to provide funding to help sustain an incredible array of grassroots environmental programs across the country. Since 1990, TD FEF has supported over 23,000 projects with over $70 million in funding. Funding recommendations are made by one of eight Regional Advisory Boards across the country, ensuring that decision-making is local, relevant and impactful. And, because TD covers the management and administrative costs of running TD FEF, 100 per cent of every dollar donated to the Foundation supports local environmental projects in the communities in which the donation was made. For more information on how to donate or to get involved in your community, visit tdfef.com.

About TD Forests
Launched in 2012 by TD Bank Group, TD Forests is founded on two pillars: reduce and grow. It is the first program of its kind at TD, where the Bank has embedded environmental practices into all aspects of its business. TD Forests brings together, under one canopy, the bank's long-standing community programs related to forest conservation and education, along with a major conservation initiative. TD Forests works to grow urban forests and green spaces, protect critical forest habitats, and encourage the responsible use of forest products. As components of TD Forests, TD Tree Days underscores the importance of our urban forests and support TD's commitment to forest protection and stewardship.

SOURCE TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

please contact Sheri Papps / Nicole McRonney-Apaw, Paradigm Public Relations, 416-413-5207 / 416-413-5114, [email protected] / [email protected]; Stefanie Marotta, TD Bank Group, 416-983-6072, [email protected]