The Giant Co., in partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, has named 32 recipients of its 2024 Healing the Planet grant program. A total of $108,243 was awarded in support of tree planting projects across Pennsylvania.
The grants were awarded to tax-exempt organizations across Giant’s operating areas. Among the recipients were eight projects in Berks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. “When it comes to healing our planet, small change can make a big difference, including ensuring we have enough thriving trees throughout our communities,” Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations and charitable giving, The Giant Co.
, said in a statement. “Through the work of this year’s 32 Healing the Planet grant recipients, more than 3,000 new trees will be planted in the coming months to help absorb carbon pollution and improve the quality of the air we breathe.” The following area organizations are among the recipients: • Wyomissing (Berks) • City of Reading Public Works (Berks) • Colonial Canopy Trees, Plymouth Meeting (Montgomery) • Concord Township, Glen Mills (Delaware) • French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Glenmore (Chester) • Newtown Square in Bloom, Newtown Square (Delaware) • Open Land Conservancy, Malvern and Berwyn (Chester) • Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, Reading, Mifflinburg and Quakertown The program was announced in June, and applications were accepted through July 1 via the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.
To be eligible, projects were required to be shovel ready with any required permits already secured. The applicants also needed to include tree planting and direct costs related to tree planting. All of the trees planted must be native to Pennsylvania.
Eligible expenses for the projects include trees native to Pennsylvania, equipment, tree signage, tools and supplies. Shipping costs are also eligible for support. “Community tree planting fosters shared responsibility and stewardship, strengthening social ties.
Native trees provide food and shelter for local wildlife, improve water conservation, provide protection from soil erosion and are more apt to survive with minimal care,” Heidi Pedicone, director of programs, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, said in a statement. “Beautifying communities also tends to reduce littering and other illegal behaviors, making it a better place for all residents and providing a foundation for community and economic development.” This is the fourth year Giant has partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to offer the grants.
Since 2021, the Healing the Planet grant program has awarded more than $1.2 million to 142 recipients for projects connecting communities to green spaces, improved or helped to protect local waterways and water resources, and supported projects that addressed food waste prevention, reduction and recovery, according to the release..
