E.ON Benelux main sponsor behind National Tree Day Foundation
Rotterdam/Eindhoven, 20 March 2007 – Energy company E.ON Benelux is to be one of the main sponsors for the National Tree Day Foundation. Dutch National Tree Day celebrates its 50th anniversary on 21 March – also signing day for the contract between the foundation and E.ON Benelux. As sponsor E.ON seeks to deploy its own activities to underline support for the foundation’s objectives. The initial activity will be in Eindhoven.
In 2005 E.ON Benelux acquired NRE Energie which supplies just over 200,000 energy clients in the Eindhoven area. Effective 21 March NRE Energie will be called E.ON. On 21 March all 2,700 school children in the 10-11 year age group in Eindhoven will receive a sustainable gift and info-package from E.ON. The info-pack comprises a letter to the school management promising that E.ON will plant a tree in Eindhoven – on behalf of the school. The local council will ensure a good location for these 78 trees. As every tree helps combat the greenhouse effect this is a real contribution to a better climate. The school kids will also get the green Tree Planting Day wristband and a CD with the Foundation’s special jubilee song.
From awareness to deeds
E.ON Benelux is an energy producer and supplies electricity, heat, CO2 and natural gas. E.ON is aware of its responsibility for the environment and the earth’s limited resources; to this end the company invests in clean technology – and in projects to help restore the balance between economy and ecology. For E.ON Benelux Dutch Tree Day represents an excellent way to increase awareness in this area – and to convert this into deeds.
Another highly visible example of E.ON’s responsible stance is its backing for the reforestation of Kibale National Park in western Uganda. Reforestation will also add 10,000 hectares habitat for chimpanzees and dozens of other primates. The Kibale project represents sustainable economic support for the local population while helping reduce the greenhouse effect by planting new trees.
Dutch Tree Day
The National Tree Day foundation aims to pass on knowledge and respect to children in the 10/11 age group – in regard to their direct environment. The foundation does this by showing the importance of trees in the natural scene. A total of just over 400 Dutch towns and cities are now involved in the celebrations around National Tree Day. And every year more than 150,000 children plant hundreds of thousands of trees and shrubs. In the course of its almost 50 years the foundation has been responsible for planting slightly more than 10 million trees and shrubs.
Theme for the 50th anniversary of National Tree Day is ‘Trees and Music’. The jubilee programme includes the National Celebration of Tree Day with the musical ‘Kids for Trees-Song Festival’, the issue of a special stamp by TNT-Post and a unique Tree Gala evening. The foundation also hopes that all Dutch towns and cities will get involved during the jubilee Tree Year – with as many children as possible from Holland’s 8,500 primary schools.
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