MetLife Legacy TreesTM
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*
Avoided and sequestered CO2 per tree (In pounds):
* Projected 40-year estimates based on a small representative species in this area, configured by Arbor Day Foundation using i-Tree Tools.
Tributes
A tree in honor of WWII vet James Bippus will be planted in his honor. He passed on May 16, 2023. What a fitting memorial. This Omaha Beach survivor loved nature, his daily walks and gardening in his younger days. Thank you MetLife for the fitting memorial to my Dad. This is a wonderful way to celebrate his memory. He would be pleased.” – Ellen Cassatt
MetLife planted a tree in honor of my mother, Margaret Potter in December 2023. My mother passed away at the age of 98 in September 2023. She loved God and her family and was always ready to step up and help anyone in need. Thank you MetLife, she would have been pleased that you planted a tree in her memory.” – Kathy Breedlove
To my loving husband, Michael W. Alcorn... Your presence we miss, Your memory we treasure, Loving you always, Forgetting you never. With love always, your wife, your children, your grandchildren, and your great grandchildren.” – Esther Alcorn
Frequently Asked Questions
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
1 Excludes life insurance used to finance benefit liabilities including but not limited to Corporate Owned Life Insurance, Company Owned Life Insurance, and Bank Owned Life Insurance.
2 Source: Arbor Day Foundation.