Published March 8, 2013 By MATT PETERSON, Breaking News Editor/Dallas Morning News
Staff writer Kian Hervey reports:
The Dallas Mavericks may be on the outside looking in for a playoff spot, but the outside is looking greener thanks to the team’s “Trees for Threes” program.
More than 100 volunteers met at Florence Middle School this morning to plant trees at the Pleasant Grove school, one of three benefiting from the initiative.
“We’re planting about 970 crepe myrtles, desert willows and chinquapin oaks,” said Amol Rana, the Mavericks’ corporate sponsorship activation manager. “If we get a playoff bid, we’ll definitely be over our goal” of 1,000.
Through the program, the Mavericks sponsor a tree for every three-pointer scored at a home game this season. The tree maintenance and planting initiative brings together volunteers from PricewaterhouseCoopers and growth experts from Arborilogical Services to beautify Dallas schools.
“I hate to say it, but when you look at these schools, they look like prisons,” Arborist Steve Houser said. “We’re not just planting trees; we’re planting a forest and giving these schools and communities pride.”
Mark Twain Elementary and Comstock Middle School will also receive trees from the program. Volunteers were excited to be a part of an initiative that contributes so much to the city.
“It’s just nice to get outside and do something for the community, especially after being in an office for two months straight,” PricewaterhouseCoopers Intern Jamal Deek said.