NEW YORK– MillionTreesNYC, a public-private partnership between the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to plant and care for 1 million new trees in New York City by 2017, has announced a new supporter in its mission to improve New York City's environment. Toyota has signed a three-year $1.4 million sponsorship with MillionTreesNYC that will support tree planting, public education, and community outreach activities — all aimed at getting every New Yorker involved in tree planting and stewardship activities.

Through a mix of public and private plantings, MillionTreesNYC, an important initiative of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC, will expand New York City's urban forest by 20 percent. MillionTreesNYC partners and citizen volunteers are planting in places such as schoolyards and playgrounds, public housing campuses, business districts, commercial and residential developments, front yards, and other private lands.

"With the support and leadership of corporations like Toyota, who are putting environmental initiatives at the forefront, we can truly change the landscape of this City and our planet," said Drew Becher, executive director of New York Restoration Project. "MillionTreesNYC is honored to have Toyota's ongoing support for our campaign."

Toyota has been a long-time supporter of environmental and tree-planting initiatives across the country. MillionTreesNYC will further Toyota's mission to support sustainable initiatives, particularly in communities where they operate. Toyota joins The Home Depot Foundation as a lead sponsor of the MillionTreesNYC initiative and BNP Paribas as presenting sponsor of MillionTreesNYC Month.

During MillionTreesNYC Month this April 2008, MillionTreesNYC launched a campaign encouraging all New Yorkers to "think globally and plant locally" enlisting community, corporate, and youth volunteers from all five boroughs to roll up their sleeves and plant trees. Throughout the month, Parks, NYRP, and MillionTreesNYC partners hosted free citywide events for the public including tree education seminars, tree stewardship workshops, tree pruning instructional courses, Urban Park Ranger tree identification hikes, and large-scale volunteer tree plantings.

To learn more about MillionTreesNYC, visit www.nyc.gov/parks.