Mayor Michael Bloomberg and David Rockefeller Tuesday announced a joint Earth Day pledge of $10 million to the MillionTreesNYC initiative to plant trees in public spaces, including New York Housing Authority developments and at city schools.

This donation of private funds made to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City by Mr. Rockefeller and Bloomberg Philanthropies will allow over 18,000 trees to be planted throughout the five boroughs.

“I have admired Mike Bloomberg for a long time. He has been a great Mayor,” said Rockefeller. “I called him a few months ago and asked him if there was a project we might work on together that would benefit the city we both love. We decided the MillionTreesNYC initiative would be a wonderful collaboration given my family’s interest in the environment and the Mayor’s efforts to ensure a better quality of life for all New Yorkers.”

Mayor Bloomberg said, “I am honored to stand with a great New Yorker, and a great American, David Rockefeller to make this donation. His generosity has inspired my matching donation, and I hope it inspires more residents, corporations and foundations to get involved, whether by purchasing a tree in someone’s honor, participating in one of the many volunteer planting days, or by adding a tree in your own front yard.”

Full Story: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2008/2008-04-23-094.asp