The Giant Company in partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful recently announced the return of its Healing the Planet grant program. This year, $100,000 will be awarded to tax-exempt organizations for tree plantings across Giant's operating areas in Pennsylvania. Eligible projects must be shovel ready and include tree planting and direct costs relating to tree planting.

The 2024 Healing the Planet grant program will accept applications through Monday, July 1, at http://www.keeppabeautiful.org. Eligible expenses include trees native to Pennsylvania, equipment, tree signage, tools, and supplies. Preference will be given to applications that aim to plant the highest number of trees. Awardees will be announced in August.

This is the fourth year that the Giant Company has partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to offer Healing the Planet grants. In the past three years, more than $1.1 million has been awarded to 110 recipients for projects that connected people and families to green spaces, improved or helped to protect local waterways and water resources, and supported projects that addressed food waste prevention, reduction, and recovery.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has supported community improvement initiatives and encouraged community leadership, responsibility, and respect for the environment since 1990. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc., has more than 30 years of experience in organizing volunteer-driven community improvement events. Visit the aforementioned website for more information on programs or to find local events.

Other ways that Giant works to heal the planet include zero-waste initiatives, offsetting emissions, reducing food waste, and producing green energy and plastic reduction efforts. To learn more, visit http://www.giantfoodstores.com/pages/our-purpose.