MetLife Legacy TreesTM
Dec 15, 2023
The Legacy Trees Program is our pledge to plant a tree in honor of each loved one for whom MetLife has paid a Group Life Insurance benefit1. While serving as a living memorial for our insureds, the program will also fight deforestation, provide clean air, shade cover and habitat for animals, while reducing erosion and flooding in communities.
"We are honored to partner with MetLife to help cultivate hope and healing through their Legacy Trees program. As a living tribute to the MetLife community, this program is helping to create more resilient forests and restore vital ecosystems that need it most. Through this collaboration, each tree becomes a legacy that helps build a healthier, more sustainable future for the planet."
– Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation
A Timeline of Progress
Hurricane Michael left thousands of acres of destroyed forest cover in its wake. In addition to providing drinking water for nearly 175,000 residents, these areas are also home to wildlife, including the gopher tortoise, bobwhite quail, Sherman’s fox squirrel, deer, turkey, and more2.
Our Tree Planting Partners
photograph by Matthew Coughlin
MetLife partners with the Arbor Day Foundation and their network of local tree planting partners to implement our tree planting program.
As the world’s largest member nonprofit dedicated to planting trees, the Arbor Day Foundation has been inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees since 1972. And that simple mission has had a global impact. For over 50 years, the Foundation has worked to plant over 500 million trees in forests and communities around the world. And through their strong network of members, partners, and supporters, the Foundation is working to plant another 500 million trees over the next 5 years.
More information is available at arborday.org.
Environmental Statistics Per Tree*
Carbon
Air
Water
Avoided and sequestered CO2 per tree (In pounds):
1%
* Projected 40-year estimates based on a small representative species in this area, configured by Arbor Day Foundation using i-Tree Tools.
Tributes
To a lovely wife of 38 years mother
To a lovely wife of 38 years mother to our four children Cortessa-Harold Jr-Symone and Quiana love you forever
Harold Major Sr.
My mother Amber passed away in April 2024
My mother Amber passed away in April 2024 and she was my best friend. She was so full of life and could make anyone smile just by being around them. She cared for others so fully and poured herself into everything she did. I miss her so much & receiving this letter meant so much to my family & I.
Elizabeth Anderson
This tree will be in honor of my sister, Maritza Robinson,
This tree will be in honor of my sister, Maritza Robinson, a beautiful soul who was taken too soon. She will be forever missed but never forgotten.
Leticia Robinson
Thank you so much for honoring my late husband Kenneth
Thank you so much for honoring my late husband Kenneth re planting a tree. This tree will be the largest and tallest of them all. Kenneth is so missed by his family. His kindness to others was insurmountable. Love you until we meet again.
Judith Welk
Emanuel Grunfeld. Amazing person, holocaust survivor.
Emanuel Grunfeld. Amazing person, holocaust survivor. Thank you for planting this tree in his memory.
Peter Rosenfield
Thank you for planting a tree in my husband Bill’s memory.
Thank you for planting a tree in my husband Bill’s memory. We met 42 years ago when he was playing in a rock band. He was my best friend, the best father to our son, my soul mate. He is missed every day and having a tree growing in his memory means so much to me. Thank you for being so thoughtful.
Denise Rueckwald
My dad, William Stenz, loved to garden. He planted
Read MoreMy beloved Ramon O Rodriguez lost his life on April 24, 2024. He was someone special, the love of my life, someone special money couldn’t buy. When his heart stop beating, my heart broke in million pieces, he was my anchor, what made our FAMILY a family.
Sonia Rodriguez
My dad Walter Quintanilla was a great father and a good grandpa
Read MoreMy dad Walter Quintanilla was a great father and a good grandpa to I was his only daughter and I was always with him as much as I could be because I lived 4 hours away and he was very proud of knowing he was going to be a grandpa
Ashley Hester
I lost my mom on fathers day June 16, 2024 and
I lost my mom on fathers day June 16, 2024 and it’s been so hard continuing on without her. She was my rock, my backbone. I miss her more than ever but I’m very thankful for this legacy tree, it brings joy to my heart knowing that there’s a tree in FL that will contribute to the air and water
Julian Smith
First Off, let me just express how incredibly grateful, and thankful
Read MoreFirst Off, let me just express how incredibly grateful, and thankful I was when I first opened and read about MetLife’s “Legacy Trees” memorial! It truly made my heart sing with joy for if but a brief moment. My beautiful wife Regina Maria Moyer-Rood battled Breast Cancer for nearly two years..valiantly fighting.. and
Martin Rood
Frequently Asked Questions
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The trees are planted at the best suitable planting time for the region, within a given calendar year.
The Arbor Day Foundation thoroughly vets planting partners and project teams to ensure that trees are responsibly planted and maintained throughout the entire project process. While Mother Nature can be difficult to predict, you can rest easy knowing that the Arbor Day Foundation and its partners strive to create healthy, thriving forests.
We are planting one tree for each deceased insured individual of MetLife Group Benefits life insurance. There is no limit on how many trees we will plant.
Our planting partners select and plant trees native to the specific area. Trees planted through this initiative are 6 – 10 inch seedlings.
All plantings are completed by contracted professional tree planters and are overseen and assessed by foresters on the grounds.
You are welcome to visit the forest area, if desired. While there is a tree planted for every insureds, there are not plaques or markers on the trees to commemorate that they are MetLife trees.
No, there is no option to opt out or make special requests related to the trees. A tree will be planted for every insured individual for whom MetLife has paid a Group Life Insurance benefit. There is no cost to the beneficiary or policyholder.
No, the MetLife Legacy TreesTM program only applies to Group Life Insurance insureds.
Learn more about MetLife sustainability efforts
MetLife Sustainability