Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Mile High Million win Arbor Day Foundation Award

Wednesday, April 28

The Arbor Day Foundation will celebrate National Arbor Day by honoring tree planters, conservation groups and corporations whose work has inspired people throughout the United States to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. The Foundation will present a National Arbor Day Award to 17 individuals or organizations at its annual awards banquet on Saturday, May 1, at Arbor Day Farm.

Every year since 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has paid tribute to exemplary tree planters and environmental stewards with a National Arbor Day Award. The 38th annual Arbor Day Awards will be given to individuals and groups who are making a positive impact on the world through tree-planting or nature education initiatives.

"The winners honored this year are doing their part to inspire the next generation of tree planters and conservationists across the United States," said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The work done with their hands and with their hearts will have a significant impact on the world today and for years to come."

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Mile High Million Tree Initiative will receive the Public Awareness of Trees Award for bringing attention to the importance of planting trees. The City of Denver and Mayor Hickenlooper created the initiative to triple the metro area's tree canopy to 18 percent by 2025, and the Denver Greenprint Council worked with many groups to spread the word. The Mile High Million group took advantage of local resources to inform the citizens of Denver about the need to plant trees. More than 1,000 delegates and dignitaries from the Democratic National Convention volunteered at 30 community-project sites around Denver. The delegation included Michelle Obama and former president Jimmy Carter. The group also worked with the NBA's Denver Nuggets and Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies to draw attention to the initiative.