Eco-friendly program will help make cities cleaner and greener…
American Express is committing $1 million toward tree planting projects in American cities helping to make them cleaner, greener and more beautiful. The ‘Root for Our City Challenge’ encourages local communities and merchants to bring more trees to urban streets. The recently launched initiative is part of American Express’ commitment to community and environmental improvements. “Trees make a huge difference in our cities. They help to offset carbon emissions, beautify an area and create a positive impact on the local economy,” said Kathy King, vice president of marketplace development, American Express Merchant Services. “Our goal with the Root For Our City Challenge is to engage people across the nation in a collaborative effort to help green the urban settings in which they live and work.”
The selected cities participating in the challenge, Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Atlanta, have densely populated urban areas and will be paired with a local environmental organization that will help to engage the community to get involved and to implement the planting project. Project plans range from replacing storm-damaged and aging trees, to the greening of lower income housing campuses, including the planting of hundreds of native trees that would significantly increase the tree canopy in these densely populated urban areas.
Cardmembers vote for their city with every purchase they make at participating merchants in the eight cities. The city with the most votes through purchases made with American Express cards will receive the largest share of the $1 million grant at the conclusion of the challenge on October 31, 2008, with the top vote-getter being announced in mid-November and receiving $300,000. The other seven participants will receive $100,000.
More information about the American Express Root For Our City Challenge and a list of participating merchants can be found at http://www.rootforourcity.com.