OAKLAND, Calif. — A’s player Tony Kemp will join volunteers to plant 50 mature trees on Friday, Sept. 23, along the MLK Regional Shoreline in Oakland. In partnership with the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation, One Tree Planted, and Players for the Planet, the Oakland A’s and The PG&E Corporation Foundation will continue community greening work in Oakland to address air pollution from the surrounding businesses through a vegetative buffer zone. 

The tree planting event will cap off Kemp’s second year as a Players for the Planet ambassador. Kemp pledged to donate $250 for every extra-base hit and stolen base he recorded during the 2022 season. The PG&E Corporation Foundation teamed up to match Kemp’s donation to the nonprofit organization up to $5,000. 

Players for the Planet and One Tree Planted enable their ambassadors to further their commitment to the planet by supporting the reforestation of urban tree canopies. The effects of tree canopy loss in urban areas are disproportionately experienced by people of color and those of lower socioeconomic status, and for those who have less opportunity to travel to natural spaces outside of cities, trees represent their closest contact with nature. Players for the Planet believes in creating and promoting urban green spaces so that citizens from all backgrounds can reap the immense benefits of trees that include improved water and soil quality, greater biodiversity, and a healthier local climate.

About Players for the Planet: Players for the Planet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded by Major League Baseball player Chris Dickerson with the goal of uniting professional athletes to create positive change for our environment. As an organization, PFTP works to connect professional athletes, sports teams, and organizations with actionable opportunities to serve and protect our natural world and the environment. It is our ultimate goal to support the professional sports industry in becoming a leading example of ecologically conscious, environmentally responsible, and sustainable practices worldwide. Players for the Planet is dedicated to providing resources for athletes across the sports landscape and helping everyone help themselves and their communities.

About One Tree Planted: One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2014 that aims to aid individuals, businesses, and other organizations in giving back to the environment through the planting of trees. The number of trees planted by One Tree Planted has more than doubled year over year, with a particular focus on restoring areas and communities damaged by fires and floods. With reforestation partners in North America, South America, Africa, and Asia, One Tree Planted has grown immensely since its inception and was able to plant over 15 million trees in 2020.