Hurricane Restoration, Pollinator Promotion, Trail Maintenance and More. Southwest Airlines, American Express, Exelon Help Support Record-Setting Effort
By expanding Earth Day into Earth Month, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) is out to transform stewardship into a year-round endeavor.
SCA, the nation’s largest and most effective youth conservation force, today announced the most sweeping Earth Day observance in its 60-year history – involving more than 5,000 volunteers at over 80 locations nationwide throughout the month of April.
Projects include restoring hurricane-damaged greenscapes in Houston, crafting native wildflower seed balls in San Francisco, and removing tons of trash from the Potomac River Watershed near Washington, DC.
“We look forward to celebrating our planet every April 22nd, but SCA’s commitment to our natural world is ongoing,” states CEO Jaime Matyas. “Across America, young volunteers and others will mark ‘Earth Month’ by strengthening local parks and habitats, an empowering process that will hone individuals’ leadership skills, bolster our communities, and forge a more sustainable future for all.”
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Thousands of employees from corporate partners dedicated to living responsibly will participate in SCA’s coast-to-coast conservation ventures. These companies include Southwest Airlines, American Express, and Exelon.
“For the past ten years, Southwest Airlines has partnered with SCA to support environmental stewardship, a cause close to our Heart,” said Laurie Barnett, Managing Director Communications and Outreach at Southwest Airlines. “We are proud to participate in this year’s Earth Month activities and further our dedication to the planet.”
“American Express has a longstanding commitment to community service and civic engagement programs, and we’re thrilled to again partner with SCA on a nationwide network of Earth Month celebrations,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. “This month, our colleagues will aid preservation and disaster relief efforts in Washington Square Park in New York City, Papago Park in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and the Urban Farming Institute in Sunrise, Florida. In addition, we will be volunteering to help bring native wildflower pollinator populations back to their communities.”
“Every day, Exelon works tirelessly to deliver clean energy to our customers and the communities we serve,” said Maggie FitzPatrick, Exelon’s Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs. “Our partnership with the Student Conservation Association will expand our impact by advancing sustainability programs in cities where we work and live.”
SCA projects that during its Earth Month, volunteers will remove 15 tons of debris from park lands, improve 200 miles of trails and waterfront areas, restore 125 acres of wildlife habitat, and create more than 10,000 native seed balls to support pollinator species.
Among other locations, SCA volunteers will be out in force in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Miami, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. For a complete list of SCA’s April projects, or to register to join the hands-on activities, visit www.thesca.org/events.
