The YMCA of Greater Brandywine donated $203 to a group of YouTubers, who, with assistance from the Arbor Day Foundation, began an initiative called Team Trees, to help plant trees around the globe. In the initiative, one dollar allows for one tree to be planted with a goal of $20 million by the end of the year.

Why did the Y donate $203 or 203 trees?

In an effort to go greener and reduce its carbon footprint, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine implemented a program called Paper Cut last year. The program tracks the organization’s paper use, as well as helps users become more aware of paper usage.

In the year since this program was implemented, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, with its eight branches throughout Chester County, has used a little more than 203 trees, approximately 32,683 reams of paper, with the amount of paper usage decreasing significantly in the initial months.

“Our employees have really become more aware of their paper usage,” says Jim Paro, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, YMCA of Greater Brandywine. “They think twice on whether they really need to have items printed or copied. Our printing costs have definitely decreased, but more importantly, we are able to better understand our environmental impact and do our part to be better stewards of our natural resources.”

The $203 donation will help plant 203 trees, replenishing the amount used by the Y in the last year.

The #TeamTrees group is closing in on their goal with over $18 million raised through early December.