Tree Delivery to Fox Chase School

On Tuesday, June 7, elementary students at Fox Chase School were in for a fun morning as they received a special delivery of trees for their school yard from the Phillies, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW). The event is in support of the school’s agricultural and environmental program, which the Phillies learned about through fifth grade parent John Varillo, who submitted an entry to the Phillies Home Run for Trees essay contest held last season.

• Several trees were on site and ready for planting on the school grounds.
• Students and teachers received a lesson in tree planting and tree caring as part of PHS’s Tree Tenders education program, a key component of PHS’s far-reaching neighborhood greening activities.
• Kids celebrated their shadier school yard with a ceremonial tree planting near their student garden, with the final tree being delivered by the Phillie Phanatic.
• Water bottles and sustainable Phillies caps were provided to all the students, courtesy of Philadelphia Gas Works.

Since 2012, The Phillies have partnered with PGW and PHS to plant a tree for each home run hit by a Phillies player during the regular season. To date, more than 1,500 trees have been planted in the Delaware Valley. The initiative is part of PHS’s effort to help increase the region’s tree count and promote healthier, greener neighborhoods.

Photos by Miles Kennedy/Philadelphia Phillies