by Laine Himmelmann
Dr. Jennifer Nuovo, Blue Shield of California
This week, Blue Shield of California joined forces with California ReLeaf, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), local leaders and community members for a celebration and tree planting in Woodland as part of California Arbor Week.
During the kickoff event, which took place at Rick Gonzales, Sr. Park, Arbor Week sponsors and community partners stressed the importance of increasing tree canopies to help address extreme heat, clean air and public health improvement.
“Trees play a crucial role in public health,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuovo, chief medical officer at Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, who represented Blue Shield of California at the event. “A robust tree canopy improves mental and physical health, combats pollution and helps build community.”
Dr. Nuovo also announced the four winners of the youth Arbor Week Art Contest, which engages students ages 5-12 on the importance of neighborhood trees in community health and connection. It’s Blue Shield of California’s third consecutive year sponsoring the art contest, coordinated by California ReLeaf in partnership with Cal Fire. This year’s theme, “Trees Root Our Community,” encouraged participants to consider the many ways trees foster community and help improve public health. California ReLeaf received hundreds of submissions from across the state, ultimately unveiling the artwork of the four winners during the event.
Dr. Jennifer Nuovo, second from left, with Woodland Mayor Rich Lansburg, executive director of California ReLeaf Cindy Blain, and local leaders
“Supporting our youth and empowering them to take action is so important,” said Dr. Nuovo. “When it comes to Blue Shield’s climate action — reducing our emissions, reducing paper to save trees, greening health care through our Virtual Blue health plan, helping combat growing youth climate anxiety, partnering with organizations like California ReLeaf, and doing the right thing — it’s not just a matter of saving the planet, it’s about saving lives and keeping people healthy. We all need to do our part.”
The statewide California Arbor Week event takes place March 7-14 annually, and encourages Californians to plant, nurture and appreciate trees, while recognizing their vital role in our environment, communities and quality of life. Funding from this year’s California Arbor Week and Growing Green Communities tree-planting grants will support 23 grassroots urban forestry projects across the state. The tree planted at Rick Gonzales, Sr. Park, through partnership with the Woodland Tree Foundation, City of Woodland and Woodland Joint Unified School District, will join Woodland’s over 16,000 trees that are part of the city’s nurtured and robust urban forest.
Cindy Blain, executive director of California ReLeaf, emphasized gratitude to all involved. “It’s incredibly inspiring to see how communities come together during Arbor Week and throughout the year to plant and nurture trees — recognizing the immense value of our urban forests and the wonderful possibilities when we work hand-in-hand to plant and nurture trees,” said Blain. “Every year Arbor Week reminds us of the essential role trees play in nurturing community resilience, strengthening social bonds and improving public health.”
To learn more about California ReLeaf and California Arbor Week, visit californiareleaf.org/arborweek
To learn more about Blue Shield of California’s commitment to environmental sustainability and corporate citizenship, visit citizenship.blueshieldca.com