HAYWARD, Calif. – The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation, Amazon and the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District to plant and distribute trees from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. PST on Friday, April 24, at Mervin Morris Park in San Lorenzo. This event is free and open to the public.
“We are thrilled about this exciting partnership and opportunity to create spaces where people and nature can flourish together. Trees transform urban spaces into vibrant, healthier, safer and more resilient communities,” said Lidia Soto-Harmon, SCA President and CEO. “Communities thrive when trees are part of their story. A future with more trees uplifts everyone because every community deserves the beauty and benefits they bring.”
As the world faces growing concerns about rising temperatures, a growing body of research shows that neighborhood trees and urban forests improve our physical and mental well-being. Trees are also on the front lines for reducing rising temperatures and helping protect against the increase of extreme weather events.
“Trees have the power to drive lasting, positive change in our cities and neighborhoods — they just need our help to plant them. That’s why we’re grateful to partner with organizations like the Student Conservation Association, who are committed to their role as local tree champions,” said Lachel Bradley-Williams, senior manager of community trees for the Arbor Day Foundation. “Together, we’re growing healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come.”
Trees offer vast benefits for the community at large. Thriving urban forests bolster human health, from encouraging physical activity to reducing respiratory illnesses stemming from air pollution. Urban trees filter air by removing pollutants, improving a city’s overall air quality. They also reduce runoff of sediment, pollutants, and organic matter into streams, improving our water quality. Trees have also been shown to reduce crime, lower stress levels, and develop community pride.
“This is a powerful example of what can happen when organizations come together around a shared mission — real, tangible change right here in our region,” said Benjamin Harvey, community engagement manager at Amazon. “Every tree we plant is helping create a greener, healthier space in the Hayward community that families and neighbors will enjoy for generations to come.”
Through its Urban Green Program, the SCA provides young people with paid green jobs, including single-day service projects, seasonal work and year-long internships or fellowships. In the San Francisco Bay Area, program participants plant trees, build trails and restore habitats while exploring green job opportunities, building leadership skills, and learning about the local environment through environmental education field trips, outdoor recreation and conservation projects.
EVENT DETAILS
WHAT: SCA Tree Planting Community & Employee Engagement Event
WHEN: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2025
WHERE: Mervin Morris Park, 1054 Grant Ave, San Lorenzo, CA 94580
RSVP: Samantha Muñoz Kelly, Bay Area Program Manager, smunoz@thesca.org
About the Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country. The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Founded in 1957, the SCA is committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and the communities we serve. For more, visit www.thesca.org.
About the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. It is a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united in the belief that trees bring people together to do great things. For more than 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has answered critical need by activating a vast network of individuals and organizations to plant trees with purpose and scale. To date, it has planted more than 500 million trees in forests and communities in more than 50 countries. And this is only the beginning. For more, visit www.arborday.org.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
About Hayward Area Recreation and Park District
The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, known locally as “H.A.R.D.,” is an independent special use district created to provide park and recreation services for over 309,000 residents. Our boundaries encompass a 100-square-mile area, which includes the City of Hayward and the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, and Fairview. For more information, visit www.HaywardRec.org.
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