Planting 80,000 trees is equivalent to reforesting over 250 football fields.
Bala Cynwyd, PA, December 10, 2015 – Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) will support the planting of 80,000 trees after reaching the goal of a yearlong collaboration that engaged agents, customers, and employees. The goal of the PHLY 80K Trees initiative, which launched in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation on Earth Day 2015, was to help wildfire and natural disaster recovery efforts and restore habitats across the country. There are over one million acres in desperate need of replanting due to natural disasters according to the U.S. Forest Service. PHLY’s efforts to plant 80,000 trees will help provide greater security to communities, including PHLY’s policyholders.
“PHLY is on a mission to save forests devastated by natural disasters,” shared Bob O’Leary, president and chief executive officer of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. “Trees provide habitat for wildlife and clean water for communities, while helping to protect businesses from flooding by increasing soil stability and reducing storm water runoff in urban areas.”
Being a property/casualty carrier and providing flood insurance, PHLY recognizes the potential effect these risks might have on the marketplace. To protect communities from future devastation, PHLY has taken action through PHLY 80K Trees to address the imperative need to build healthy forests and ecosystems.
The PHLY 80K Trees goal was reached with the help of PHLY’s independent agents, brokers, and policyholders. PHLY invited producers and policyholders to enroll into receiving paperless statements. The company will use the cost savings to fund the planting of 40,000 trees in Bastrop State Park and surrounding communities. An additional 20,000 trees will be planted in both Superior National Forest in Minnesota and Modoc National Forest in California. PHLY employees also raised money to support the initiative and will help plant a portion of the 40,000 trees in Bastrop State Park near Austin, TX in January 2016.
As part of its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation in 2015, PHLY also purchased carbon-offsets, which reduced its carbon footprint by 2,200 metric tons. This is equivalent to removing 463 passenger vehicles from the road for a year.
For more information about the initiative please visit www.PHLY.com/Trees.
About Philadelphia Insurance
Philadelphia Insurance Companies designs, markets, and underwrites commercial property/casualty and professional liability insurance products incorporating value added coverages and services for select industries. In operation since 1962, the Company, whose commercial lines insurance subsidiaries are rated ’A++’ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and ’A+’ for counterparty credit and financial strength by Standard & Poor’s, is nationally recognized as a member of Ward’s Top 50, National Underwriter’s Top 100, and one of the Top 150 Workplaces in America. Policies are underwritten by Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company. The organization has 50 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior service. For more information, please visit www.PHLY.com.
About Arbor Day Foundation
Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.