Get to Know our Partner: PGE
With us since 1989, Portland General Electric is the Presenting Partner of our Millionth Tree Celebration
Just like the decades-old trees we’ve planted throughout the years, our partnership with Portland General Electric has deep roots. Since 1989, PGE and Friends of Trees have partnered with the shared belief of investing in the environmental health and economic success of our communities by planting native trees and shrubs.
Our partnership with PGE has allowed us to bring communities together to instantly beautify neighborhoods and parks, while also supporting healthy air quality. PGE knows trees play a pivotal role in climate action by removing CO2 and other pollutants, resulting in better air quality for everyone.
As PGE and Friends of Trees are dedicated to building the greenery of our communities, we are both also committed to thoughtful tree selection and planting education. PGE’s “right tree, right place” initiative works to empower customers before planting to ensure their trees can grow and thrive without interfering with powerlines or other electrical equipment.
“Selecting the right tree species in the right location is critical to the long-term growth and success of the tree,” said PGE Senior Manager Vegetation Management, Alex Konopka. “We want to empower customers to make the right decisions now before they plant to ensure their trees can grow to full potential.”
Over the past 36 years, PGE has sponsored hundreds of tree planting events. With PGE employees volunteering countless hours to the cause, it’s not uncommon to see a crew of volunteers wearing PGE shirts, eager to get trees in the ground.
“Planting just one tree is really gratifying, but planting one million together is an amazing milestone that demonstrates our values as a community,” says PGE Community Impact Director, Kregg Arntson.
He continues, “We are grateful to Friends of Trees for bringing us together for more than three decades to plant trees and native plants that have beautified our neighborhoods and parks, made the air cleaner, and contributed to healthier living.”
We were joined at our Millionth Tree celebration by folks from Portland General Electric. In his remarks, Friends of Trees founder Richard Seidman shouted out PGE for being a partner on our very first tree, planted at Boise-Eliot Elementary School in 1989.
“PGE was at our very first planting,” says Friends of Trees Executive Director Yashar Vasef. “We’ve done so many things with them over the years, like hosting Project Zero interns and modernizing our fleet with electric vehicles through the PGE Drive Change fund. We’re very grateful for all their support.”
Before helping plant the Millionth Tree itself, PGE CEO Maria Pope thanked the volunteers and crew leaders who planted alongside PGE employees at Saturday events over the past 36 years.
“This achievement is the result of decades of partnership, thousands of volunteers and a shared belief in the power of community to shape a healthier, more resilient future,” said Pope. “Thank you to Friends of Trees for more than 30 years of leadership—and to every volunteer who helped get us here.”
We’re excited that Portland General Electric is the Presenting Partner for our Millionth Tree Celebration. They’re helping us celebrate by supporting volunteer events throughout the planting season and other fun community events like tree walks and volunteer appreciation parties. All of this will culminate with the Millionth Tree Celebration & Planting in April.
“We could not have reached this milestone without their support,” says Yashar Vasef, Friends of Trees Executive Director. “We’re so grateful to have had such a committed partner throughout our entire history.”
PGE is also helping us tell the story of our first million trees and native shrubs. Check out A Million Trees, A Million Stories, brought to you by PGE, to hear about some of the people who have made an incredible impact for the community working with Friends of Trees. One of the stories is from Adrian, a PGE Project Zero intern!