Special Campaign Has Contributions to New England Public Radio Assisting Replanting Efforts in Mass., Conn., and Vermont

[February 9, 2012 -- Amherst, MA] New England Public Radio announces a special new campaign, "Root For Your Radio: Make a Pledge, Plant a Tree," in partnership with the Connecticut River Watershed Council.  The campaign seeks to address tree damage in the station's listening area caused by three separate and severe weather events in 2011: the June tornadoes, Tropical Storm Irene and its associated flooding in August, and the historic October Nor'easter. 

"We've partnered with the Connecticut River Watershed Council, and several area nurseries including Tarnow Garden Center, Randall's Farm and Greenhouse and New England Wetland Plants to distribute 2600 trees to a number of local environmental organizations who are working up and down the Connecticut River Valley to restore these affected areas," said Director of Development and Major Gifts, Cathy Ives. "It's a great partnership that allows New England Public Radio listeners to have their contribution go even further to help our community."

For every pledge made to New England Public Radio during the station's upcoming on-air fund drive (February 24 - March 3), a tree will be planted by a partner organization. For a complete list of partners, please see below. Funds for the purchase of trees, and to facilitate the re-planting efforts have been generously contributed by donors to New England Public Radio, as well as a donor to the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. The Connecticut River Watershed Council will oversee the distribution of trees to organizations up and down the Connecticut River Valley who are participating in the effort.     

"The Connecticut River Watershed Council is proud to be a partner with New England Public Radio in working to restore trees lost in the severe storms of 2011. Trees are vital to healthy rivers," said CRWC President Chelsea Gwyther. "Trees provide habitat to a host of animals, reduce the impact of flooding and pollution, prevent erosion, and connect us to the natural world."      

The goal for the nine day on-air fund drive is $260,000, which is needed to keep New England Public Radio on target to balance its $3.8MM budget by June 30, 2012.    

Listeners can make a contribution to "Root For Your Radio: Make a Pledge, Plant a Tree" either online at the station's secure webpage at nepr.net, or by calling 1-800-639-8850 during the on-air drive.    

For more information on the campaign, and an expanded fact sheet about the importance of trees to the local environment, please visit the Root for Your Radio webpage at nepr.net

Partner Organizations: 

The Connecticut River Watershed Council

US Fish and Wildlife Service Silvio O. Conte Refuge

The City of Springfield, Massachusetts

Black River Action Team (VT)

City of Middletown Urban Forestry Commission (CT)

Deerfield River Watershed Association (VT and MA)

Hampden Hampshire Conservation District

Project Supporters

Tarnow Garden Center, Chicopee, MA and Enfield, CT

New England Wetland Plants

New England Environmental, Inc.

O'Reilly, Talbot and Okun

Randall's Farm and Greenhouse of Ludlow, Ludlow, MA

ABR, Inc. 

Rotary Club of Springfield

Hadley Garden Center

PJ Library

Whole Foods Market

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New England Public Radio

88.5FM WFCR | AM640 and 91.7FM all-news WNNZ

Hampshire House | 131 County Circle | Amherst, Massachusetts  01003
413.545.0100 |  nepr.net  

New England Public Radio is a premiere public broadcasting organization that delivers exceptional news, information, music, and cultural programming on air and online to listeners in New England and beyond.  New England Public Radio combines the best of NPR, other national public programming, and signature local programming to serve longtime News and Music devotees, and serious News and Talk consumers.

About Connecticut River Watershed Council Founded in 1952, CRWC's mission is to protect and celebrate the 410-mile Connecticut River. It works throughout the entire watershed, an area of 11,000 square miles in four states.