The UPS Foundation advances global forestry initiative

Seven million trees planted in 52 countries around the world
The UPS Foundation grants $130,000 to Credit Valley Conservation Foundation

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - The UPS Foundation, which leads the global citizenship programs for UPS^® (NYSE: UPS), announced it will award more than $3.3 million (CAD) in grants to nonprofit organizations focused on environmental sustainability initiatives. This includes a significant grant to 25 year partner, The Nature Conservancy, a global organization that works to preserve ecologically important land and water resources through conservation. Other grants will support programs that advance environmental research and education, carbon reduction and energy conservation – all vital to economic growth and community stability.

The Nature Conservancy grant includes a partnership extension for UPS's Global Forestry Initiative, a program designed to plant, protect and preserve trees in urban and rural areas and forests worldwide. The grant will enable The Nature Conservancy to continue reforestation efforts for at-risk or eroded ecosystems throughout the U.S., Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico and Tanzania.

The UPS Global Forestry Initiative has also marked the expansion of UPS's collaboration efforts with environmentally-focused non-profit partners such as Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). CVC is a community-based environmental organization, dedicated to protecting, restoring and managing the natural resources of the Credit River watershed.

The partnership between UPS and CVC was formed in 2011 with the goal of having its employees, their family and friends volunteer in environmentally friendly activities such as CVC's tree planting events. This year, The UPS Foundation has awarded a $130,000 grant to CVC, through the Credit Valley Conservation Foundation, bringing the total contribution to more than $255,000. The grant will help support environmental programs and forestry-focused initiatives throughout Canada.

"UPS values environmental sustainability and it is one of the four focus areas of The UPS Foundation," said Christoph Atz, president, UPS Canada. "We're proud to expand our financial support of Credit Valley Conservation and commend our employees who continue to volunteer their time toward community initiatives."

Since 2011, UPS employees in Canada planted more than 5,500 trees. In addition, UPS employees, their families and friends have logged more than 345,000 volunteer hours to various organizations. 

Globally, The UPS Foundation has planted more than 1.8 million trees in 2016 and more than seven million trees since 2012. The UPS Foundation has a goal to fund the planting of 15 million trees by the end of 2020.

In addition to The Nature Conservancy and Credit Valley Conservation, The UPS Foundation is awarding environmental grants to 10 other organizations:

• DonorsChoose.org, backing environmental education classroom projects submitted by public school teachers in rural U.S. communities.

• Earth Day Network, for the Trees for Communities project that will plant more than 500,000 trees in Mexico, India, Cameroon, Uganda and the Boreal Forest in Canada.

• Earthwatch, in support of two education and research workshops as part of the organization's 2017 Climate Ambassadors Program.

• Keep America Beautiful, Inc., to fulfill local tree planting grants and beautification projects, advance community education and engage UPS employees through volunteerism.

• National Arbor Day Foundation, for continued help with reforestation programs of Canada's Boreal Forest, planting 50,000 trees.

• National Park Foundation, to extend reforestation efforts in reclaimed mining land near the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Penn.

• Student Conservation Association (SCA), for assistance with its National Conservation Internship Program for college students interested in environmental stewardship careers.

• World Business Council for Sustainable Development, to support public private partnerships to enhance environmental sustainability.

• World Resources Institute, to provide continued program support for The Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Principles for Sustainable Development of Renewable Natural Gas.

• World Wildlife Fund, to build local capacity for tropical rainforest restoration and reforestation in Africa, Asia and Latin America through WWF's Education for Nature Reforestation Grants to non-governmental organizations, community groups and educational institutions.

For more information about UPS's corporate giving, please visit UPS.com/Foundation.

About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2015, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $110 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS. 

SOURCE UPS Canada Ltd.

Image with caption: "UPS Canada presents a cheque of $130,000 to Credit Valley Conservation Foundation (CNW Group/UPS Canada Ltd.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161003_C1093_PHOTO_EN_785953.jpg

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