BALA CYNWYD, Pa., April 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 80,000 trees and offset 2,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2015. The PHLY 80k Trees initiative launching on Earth Day 2015 will support planting through two of the Foundation's signature programs: Replanting Our Nation's Forests and Community Tree Recovery.
To achieve the goal of planting 80,000 trees, PHLY is engaging its employees, independent agents and brokers, and policyholders in a paperless initiative. For each new agent enrollment in direct deposit of commissions, PHLY will plant ten (10) trees on behalf of the agent. For each new policyholder enrollment in electronic billing, PHLY will plant fifteen (15) trees on behalf of the customer.
Healthy trees provide habitat for wildlife, clean water for communities, and decrease the risk of flooding by increasing soil stability and reducing storm water runoff in urban areas. Record wildfires, storms, and other natural disasters have destroyed millions of trees in forests in recent years. Over one million acres are in desperate need of replanting according to the U.S. Forest Service.
"Weather- and climate-related events involving property damage and business disruption have drastically impacted the insurance industry," said Bob O'Leary President and Chief Executive Officer of PHLY. "By partnering with Arbor Day Foundation to support the planting of 80,000 trees, we are not only taking steps to ensure that generations to come will benefit from our forests, but providing security to our policyholders."
Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees with more than one million members and programs making a positive difference to the environment including Replanting Our Nation's Forests and Community Tree Recovery.
"The Arbor Day Foundation is delighted to share a common goal with PHLY of being responsible stewards of the environment," said Dan Lambe, president, Arbor Day Foundation. "PHLY's investment will enrich our local forests and surrounding communities."
PHLY will also plant one tree for every dollar donated by PHLY employees and the public at PHLY.com/Trees. Thirty PHLY volunteers will be participating in a two-day volunteer planting tour in Bastrop, TX, led by Arbor Day Foundation's local and on-the-ground partners. The planting tour will take place during the fall 2015/spring 2016 planting season.
For more information about the initiative please visit http://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 'AA-' 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 49 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior service. For more information, please visit http://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.
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