NAACP Arlington Branch Donates $60K To Increase Tree Canopy In Disadvantaged Communities

ARLINGTON, VA — The NAACP Arlington Branch donated $60,000 to EcoAction Arlington on Thursday in an effort to "further tree equity in historically underserved neighborhoods."

The $60,000 charitable donation to EcoAction Arlington was made possible through a grant from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, NAACP Arlington said.

The donation will help EcoAction, a group founded in 1978 with a mission of encouraging environmentally friendly actions, and NAACP Arlington meet their goal of increasing the number of trees planted from current levels by about 500 trees a year for the next five years in Arlington’s historically disadvantaged communities.

“Arlington has a 10- year life expectancy difference amongst its neighborhoods, and this donation will create focus and provide much needed tree canopy in places that have, for decades, been left out of the conversation,” NAACP Arlington Branch President Michael Hemminger said in a statement.

Research demonstrates that trees act as natural filters by absorbing pollutants and harmful particles from the air, and their absence can result in higher levels of air pollution, leading to respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Residents of Black communities are almost three times more likely to die from asthma related causes, according to NAACP Arlington.

The donation to EcoAction “is an important step forward in helping to right many wrongs of the past,” the civil rights group said.

The NAACP Arlington Branch said it takes a comprehensive equity approach toward supporting disadvantaged neighborhoods through transitioning to green environments.

“For years, EcoAction Arlington has been a committed partner in the furtherance of our mission, making them a natural fit for why we selected this non-profit as the recipient,” Hemminger said.