Northwell To Plant 30,000 Trees For Babies Born In 2021

LONG ISLAND, NY – Northwell Health celebrated Arbor Day this year by honoring new life.

The health system announced on Monday that it will plant 30,000 trees to represent the 30,000 babies born at Northwell hospitals in 2021.

The project kicked off on Friday, when Northwell symbolically planted one sapling at each of the ten birthing hospitals within the system.

“Northwell is committed to keeping our communities well—and to doing it in the most socially responsible way,” said Donna Drummond, Northwell’s chief sustainability officer. “That means taking environmental responsibility, expanding access to equitable care, and forming partnerships for community well-being."

On Long Island, participating hospitals are: South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore; Huntington Hospital in Huntington; North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset; Peconic Bay Medical Center Riverhead; and Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

Other New York hospitals include: Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan; Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in Queens; Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco; Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow; and Staten Island University Hospital.

Northwell delivered 30,500 babies in 2021, which represented 15 percent of all births in New York State and 1 percent nationally, a press release said.

"To continue our mission, we are delighted to engage in an initiative to plant a tree for every child born at a Northwell facility," said Drummond. "We believe that we will have a positive impact on the environment and while providing our neighbors with a great way to commemorate a new life.”

To learn more about Northwell’s Katz Women’s Hospitals, click here.