Keep the Midlands Beautiful, the Michael J. Mungo Foundation and TD Bank employees partner to plant trees in Columbia
October 30, 2019
TD Bank has selected Keep the Midlands Beautiful to participate in TD Tree Days, a community-based program that expands urban forests and green spaces in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Staff and volunteers of Keep the Midlands Beautiful and the Michael J. Mungo Foundation joined 40 local employees of TD Bank to plant 30 native trees and 60 native shrubs on St Andrews Road across from Shaw Industries in Columbia. The planting location is part of the Lower Saluda Greenway District Community Beautification project.
“We’re excited to team with Keep the Midlands Beautiful during TD Tree Days to benefit the community and elevate the quality of the environment,” said Joe Doolan, TD Bank’s Head of Environmental and Community Partnerships. “At TD, we’re driven by a central belief that together we can break down barriers and help build inclusive futures, where everyone can succeed in a changing world. Through The Ready Commitment, TD’s corporate citizenship platform, we support initiatives that will ensure a sustainable future for all. TD Tree Days is one of many programs that help promote a more vibrant planet by providing green spaces where they are most needed. Trees do much more than beautify our communities – they produce oxygen; improve air quality and slow climate change by reducing carbon emissions, airborne pollutants and smog; provide cooling shade to reduce energy costs; and enhance quality of life.”
Keep the Midlands Beautiful is one of 18 organizations in the United States that was chosen to participate in TD Tree Days through an application process. “We are so excited to participate in TD Tree Days this year,” said Executive Director of Keep the Midlands Beautiful, Jacqueline Buck. “It is an honor to work alongside TD Bank and the Michael J. Mungo Foundation as we continue to promote urban forestry in Columbia.”
“We are proud Keep the Midlands Beautiful selected an area within the Lower Saluda Greenway District to partner with; not only for the opportunity to landscape a vacant parcel, but also for the visibility to our mission that these projects bring,” stated Stewart Mungo, Chairman of the Michael J. Mungo Foundation. “Improving the physical and aesthetic environment of the St. Andrews Road corridor will create positive economic growth in the District .”
Now in its 10th year, the TD Tree Days program brings together community members and TD employees at planting events in communities from Maine to Florida. Founded in 2010, the program has positively impacted communities and the environment as TD’s flagship volunteer and urban greening program, planting nearly 400,000 native trees and shrubs, primarily in Canada and the U.S., and is managed with support from the Arbor Day Foundation. Under The Ready Commitment platform, TD pledges to plant one million trees in North America by 2030, and the TD Tree Days program will count toward that goal.
In addition to Columbia, TD Tree Days events are scheduled in these communities this fall: Hartford, Connecticut; Homestead, Jacksonville and Miami, Florida; Mattapan, Gardner and Worchester, Massachusetts; Houlton, Maine; Detroit, Michigan; Jersey City, Newark and Atlantic City, New Jersey; Glen Cove and Ossining, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Greenville, South Carolina; and Burlington, Vermont.
About Keep the Midlands Beautiful
Established in 1989 to serve Richland and Lexington Counties, the mission of Keep the Midlands Beautiful is to engage, inspire and educate the Midlands to invest in our community through litter prevention, recycling and beautification. Each year, thousands of Midlands residents volunteer to support this mission, our groups regularly remove litter on area roads and waterways, parks, and schools. We have businesses coming together to implement recycling programs, and communities pursuing beautification projects throughout both counties. As a 501(c)3 organization we rely heavily on support from corporate partners, local business support and dedicated individuals. #DoBeautifulThings visit: www.facebook.com/keepthemidlandsbeautiful/ or www.twitter.com.goodcleanfun803
About The Ready Commitment
TD Tree Days supports TD’s longstanding commitment to community enrichment and forms one component of its newly launched The Ready Commitment, a multi-year platform that actively promotes inclusivity, economic vitality, environmental wellbeing and health, enabling people of all backgrounds to succeed in a rapidly changing world. As part of The Ready Commitment, TD targets CDN $1 billion (US $775 million) in total by 2030 toward community giving in four critical areas: Financial Security, a more Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through this platform, TD aspires to create a more inclusive tomorrow — helping people of all backgrounds feel more confident, not just about their finances, but about their ability to achieve their goals. For information, visit td.com/thereadycommitment.
About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visitwww.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us.
About Michael J. Mungo Foundation
The Michael J. Mungo Foundation honors the legacy of the late Mr. Mungo who, throughout his life, generously — and quietly — donated likely more than any single, local citizen to help the less fortunate. Upon his death, he left his entire estate to his sons Stewart and Steven who created the foundation with his assets to continue his mission of helping those in need and community beautification. He strongly believed in reinvesting the money he made back into the community from which it came.
