On April 28, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined award winning actress Bette Midler and MillionTreesNYC, a public-private partnership between New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, to celebrate Arbor Day by planting more than 100 trees in the Bronx. In partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), corporate volunteers from MillionTreesNYC, BNP Paribas, Toyota, 5th grade students from NYRP’s RespecTree education program and local NYCHA residents planted trees at the NYCHA Justice Sonia Sotomayor Houses in the Bronx.

“Over 10 years ago, when our community gardens were under threat to be sold off for private development, Bette Midler became a true public servant, raising the necessary funds to save these wonderful public resources. Since then, the New York Restoration Project has been a leader in supporting our green spaces, promoting environmental friendliness and healthier lifestyles, and I am thrilled to welcome Bette Midler and her organization to the Bronx today,” said Borough President Diaz.