FedEx and the NFWF Announce Urban Restoration Grants

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and FedEx have announced nine grant awards that will enable urban residents across the country to take action on local environmental challenges. The Five Star Restoration Program grants will fund a range of projects, from restoring ocean-side bluffs in Golden Gate National Park to re-planting neglected urban forests in Philadelphia. Additional project locations include Boston, Indianapolis, Memphis, Dallas, Pittsburgh, Oakland, and the greater Los Angeles area.

The Five Star Restoration Program is a partnership among NFWF, National Association of Counties, the Wildlife Habitat Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, supported by additional contributions from private partners like FedEx. Since 1999, Five Star has supported 515 projects with more than $4.25 million in federal funds, $1.7 million in private and corporate contributions and $17.5 million in matching funds at the local level.

"The hallmark of our Five Star Restoration Program is building long-term community partnerships," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director of NFWF. "By actively participating in these projects and encouraging others to join them, FedEx and its team members around the nation are leading the way to protect and restore our urban spaces."

"Through our program EarthSmart Outreach, FedEx and its team members can contribute to their communities in environmentally-focused ways," said Mitch Jackson, vice president of environmental affairs and sustainability at FedEx. "Working with NFWF, we are able to find, fund and volunteer for projects important to our local communities, and where we can help make our communities cleaner and healthier." In many cases, the grants support not only restoration activities but also education, so that participants can learn about the impact of their actions on wetlands, carbon emissions, water quality and wildlife habitats.

The FedEx-sponsored Five Star Restoration Program grants for 2010-20011 were awarded to:

* Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, for Presidio Coastal Bluffs restoration
* Temple University, Philadelphia, for tree-planting in Fairmount Park and education
* Student Conservation Association in Boston for plant and wildlife restoration in the Charles River watershed
* Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., for restoration, education and planting projects in the Pogue's Run watershed
* Wolf River Conservancy, Memphis, for restoration on two urban properties involving the Memphis City Schools
* Trinity Commons Foundation, Dallas, for streamside stabilization and restoration along the Trinity River
* Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, for a rain garden project to reduce storm water overflow and combined sewage overflow
* Sausal Creek Eco-Stewards in Oakland, California, for field investigations and classroom projects
* Bolsa Chica Conservancy, Huntington Beach, California, for habitat restoration and wetlands science education