News Releases

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 28, 2024 – Corewell Health™ is the only health system in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to be named a Tree Campus Healthcare Institution by the Arbor Day Foundation. Four Corewell Health hospitals have been recognized for their dedication and understanding of the vital role trees play in human health.  

Numerous research studies, like those shared by the National Library of Medicine and the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, have demonstrated the benefits of trees and other plants for human health, including a reduction in stress, improved cardiovascular function and faster recovery times.  

Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital has earned this designation for six consecutive years, and Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital for four consecutive years. Building on the success of Tree Campus Healthcare program at its Grand Rapids locations, Corewell Health Pennock Hospital and Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital have now achieved this recognition for the first time. 

Corewell Health hospitals were able to qualify for the Tree Campus Healthcare designation by meeting specific standards, including maintaining tree advisory committees, developing and implementing facility tree care plans, completing community forestry projects and educating communities about the importance of trees. 

As part of its commitment to the community, Corewell Health distributes hundreds of tree seedlings to patients, visitors and team members on Arbor Day, encouraging the community to become engaged in this initiative. This year, 2,000 tree seedlings were shared on April 25 across the four hospitals.  

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. Its Tree Campus Healthcare program aims to transform community health and wellness and ultimately save lives through the health benefits provided by trees. 

Corewell Health recognizes the strong interconnection between human and environmental health. The health system is committed to protecting the natural environment by reducing its environmental impact and developing strategies that amplify and expand existing efforts. To learn more about Corewell Health’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.spectrumhealth.org/about-us/corporate-social-responsibility/sustainability. 

### 

About Corewell Health™

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 65,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org. 

Contact:

Alexis Bolo Neal

alexis.boloneal@corewellhealth.org