Growing stronger communities on Arbor Day

Caring for our communities is not just part of what we do. It’s part of who we are. That commitment was on full display this Arbor Day, an annual observance dedicated to planting trees and promoting environmental stewardship, as Cummins employees partnered with local organizations and community leaders to help grow a healthier, greener Indianapolis.

On April 24, volunteers from Cummins, Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E), the Arbor Day Foundation and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful planted more than 50 native trees in the College Park neighborhood of northwest Indianapolis. 

The volunteers’ efforts focused on a community with limited tree canopy and significant opportunity to benefit from new plantings. Urban trees play a critical role in filtering air pollutants, intercepting stormwater before it reaches overtaxed sewer systems, and cooling streets and sidewalks during the summer months. Each tree represents a meaningful investment in both environmental quality and community health.

Nearly 50 volunteers spent the morning digging, preparing root systems, navigating rocky soil and mulching newly planted trees. Cummins employees were joined by company leaders, including Chair and CEO Jennifer Rumsey, along with community partners including Mel Raines, Tamika Catchings and Rachel Simon of PS&E; City-County Council President Maggie Lewis; Arbor Day Foundation Director of Corporate Partnerships Abbie Eisenhart; and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful President and CEO Jeremy Kranowitz.

“Cummins has its roots in Indiana, and for more than a century we believe that the health of our company is directly connected to the health of our communities,” said Rumsey. “Planting trees in the College Park neighborhood is a meaningful way to invest in cleaner air, healthier neighborhoods and long-term community well-being. It also reflects the collective impact we can make when employees, partners and organizations come together to support the places they call home.”

The Arbor Day Foundation, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to tree planting, provided guidance and support for the project as a part of our broader partnership, while Keep Indianapolis Beautiful coordinated the planting locally and will maintain the trees during their critical early years of growth.

“Trees clean our air, cool our cities and improve quality of life,” said Eisenhart. “We’re proud to support Cummins, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and PS&E in unlocking the transformative power of trees in College Park.”

Working alongside community partners, Cummins continues to invest in solutions that strengthen neighborhoods and support a cleaner, healthier future. These efforts help ensure Cummins’ global communities are better because the company is there.

As an official America250 community initiative, this effort also reflects the role of local service in building a stronger, more resilient future as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.

Together with its partners, Cummins is helping Indianapolis grow — one tree at a time.