Sacramento, CA…The California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and California ReLeaf welcome the support and sponsorship of Edison International, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), and Blue Shield of California to celebrate California Arbor Week, March 7-14, 2025.

This year Edison International and Pacific Gas and Electric Company collectively donated $115,000 for the Arbor Week and Growing Green Communities tree planting grants offered by California ReLeaf. This funding will support 23 grassroots urban forestry projects across the state. Blue Shield of California sponsored the Arbor Week Art Contest, coordinated by California ReLeaf in partnership with CAL FIRE, to engage youth about the importance of neighborhood trees in nurturing community health and connection through the many benefits trees provide.

“We are delighted and deeply grateful to partner with so many wonderful organizations to celebrate Arbor Week,” said Cindy Blain, Executive Director of California ReLeaf. “It’s incredibly inspiring to see how communities come together during Arbor Week and throughout the year to plant and nurture trees–recognizing the immense value of our urban forests and the wonderful possibilities when we work hand-in-hand to plant and nurture trees. Every year Arbor Week reminds us of the essential role trees play in nurturing community resilience, strengthening social bonds, and improving public health.”

A press conference was held, Monday, March 10, 2025, at Rick Gonzales, Sr. Park in Woodland to officially launch the statewide celebration of California Arbor Week. During this event, the winners of California ReLeaf’s Tree Planting Grants, and the Youth Art Contest were announced. The Woodland Tree Foundation hosted the kickoff celebration, proudly highlighting their partnership with the City of Woodland and the Woodland Joint Unified School District. Together, they are working to increase tree canopy in the community, helping to address extreme heat and improve public health.

“Woodland has been celebrating Arbor Day since 1903, and we are a proud “City of Trees.” Trees are in our DNA. Historically, Woodland was created amongst a valley oak grove in 1861,” said David Wilkinson, Program Coordinator with Woodland Tree Foundation. “Community volunteers are looking forward to planting many more trees this year in partnership with the city during Woodland’s Arbor Day event on March 15th and with Woodland Joint Unified School District for the Cool Schools Yolo program this spring, which is sponsored by a CAL FIRE Green Schoolyards grant.”

With Edison International’s and Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s sponsorships of California ReLeaf’s two small grant programs, more than 20 nonprofits and community-based organizations are coordinating tree-planting events this spring. These community greening efforts across California aim to improve public health, mitigate extreme heat events, and educate the public about selecting the right tree for the right place and safe tree-planting practices.

“Edison International is proud to sponsor the Arbor Week tree planting grants for the seventh consecutive year, supporting grassroots efforts that bring environmental and public health benefits to neighborhoods that need them most,” said Elizabeth Seelman, Director of Corporate Affairs at Edison International, “Trees play a vital role in reducing the impacts of extreme heat, improving air quality and fostering vibrant public spaces where communities can thrive. By investing in urban forestry, we are investing in a more sustainable and equitable future for all Californians.”

“At PG&E, the safety of our customers and communities is our top priority,” said Joe Wilson, vice president of PG&E’s North Valley & Sierra Region. “Safe, healthy trees are one of the greatest gifts we can give future generations. It starts before we even put a shovel in the ground. Even small trees can grow tall or have large roots and pose a safety concern. When choosing plants, it’s important to think about how tall they will grow so they don’t touch the powerlines. We can all work together to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe.”

Blue Shield of California sponsored the California Arbor Week Youth Poster Contest to educate and inspire the next generation of tree champions on the importance of growing and protecting our urban forests for environmental, social, and public health benefits. This year’s theme, “Trees Root Our Community,” encouraged school children ages 5-12 to consider the many ways trees foster community cohesion and help improve public health. The contest winners were announced, and their artwork was unveiled during the press conference.

“Those of us in the healthcare field see firsthand how environmental factors affect people’s health–whether through pollution, poor air quality, and most recently the devastating Southern California wildfires. We are all impacted by bad air,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuovo, chief medical officer for Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. “These impacts are further magnified for low-income communities, where pollution is often greater and access to mitigation measures–such as air purifiers or community green spaces–is more limited. Trees play a crucial role in public health and Blue Shield of California is proud to support the California Arbor Week Youth Artist Contest and Arbor Week event.”

California Arbor Week has the ongoing support of CAL FIRE, which actively promotes community tree planting in urban areas throughout California through grant funding, education, and technical expertise. With collaboration from numerous state and local partners, CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is dedicated to expanding tree canopy coverage across the state.

“The statewide strategic plan to increase urban tree canopy cover is currently under development,” states Walter Passmore, State Urban Forester for CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. “Successful implementation will rely on the collective resolve and action of government, organizations, and the people of California. The planting and care of trees provides benefits to all, which are increased when everyone does their part.”

CAL FIRE

Duty PIO

916-651-3473

calfire.dutypio@fire.ca.gov

California ReLeaf

Cindy Blain

Executive Director

916-407-8234

cblain@californiareleaf.org

Woodland Tree Foundation

David Wilkinson

Program Coordinator

916-712-9461

davwilk@pacbell.net

Blue Shield of California

Laine Himmelmann

Sr. Manager, Corporate Communications

916-502-3248

laine.himmelmann@blueshieldca.com

PG&E

24-hour media line:

415-973-5930

Media Notes:

California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection: As part of the department’s mission, CAL FIRE is charged with protecting California’s forests by maintaining the sustainability of the state’s natural resources, including both urban and wildland forests. CAL FIRE is encouraging everyone to be a part of California Arbor Week by planting a tree. It’s important that you carefully plan before you plant a tree to ensure that your tree is drought-tolerant and properly placed to avoid growing into power lines, buildings, or other infrastructure. Get more planting tips on the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov.

California ReLeaf supports grassroots efforts and builds strategic partnerships that protect, enhance, and grow California’s urban and community forests. California Arbor Week runs March 7 – 14 each year. For more on all California ReLeaf’s statewide urban forest community development program, please visit http://californiareleaf.org/

Woodland Tree Foundation: Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Woodland Tree Foundation is a grassroots, volunteer-focused nonprofit driven by the motto “Creating Community Through Canopy.” They have planted over 6,500 shade trees in yards, schools, parks, city streets, and along State Highway 113 between Woodland and Davis, where hundreds of native valley oaks now thrive. Learn more by visiting Woodland Tree Foundation’s website: https://woodlandtree.org/

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

Blue Shield of California: Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. The health plan is a taxpaying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with nearly 6 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $25 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $60 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook.

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