Rapid City, S.D. – Black Hills Federal Credit Union (BHFCU) teamed up with the Black Hills National Forest Service to celebrate Arbor Day for a second year. A campaign to enroll BHFCU members in paperless statements raised $1,200 for the Black Hills National Forest Service’s reforestation efforts.

The donation will fund the purchase of more than 1,400 ponderosa pine seedlings, helping reforest over 3.5 acres of the Jasper Fire burn area in the southern Black Hills. The Arbor Day celebration effort was two-fold. It switched more than 1,000 members from paper statements to eStatements, and each opt-in triggered a $1 donation to the Black Hills National Forest Service.

“Arbor Day is observed by planting trees, and BHFCU wanted to continue to make an impact locally,” said Leslie Millard, marketing communications specialist. “With help from our members, for a second year, we have funded the planting of over 1,400 trees in the Black Hills. I would call that a success!”

During the summer of 2000, what would become known as the Jasper Fire started west of Jewel Cave National Monument in the Black Hills National Forest. Over the course of a few weeks, 83,000 acres were burned. Over two decades later, the reforestation project is still underway. The entire donation from this campaign will be put toward planting trees in the burn area.

BHFCU supports community needs through corporate contributions, employee fundraisers and Jeans Day donations, and contributions from members, staff, and community supporters to the Black Hills FCU Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Established in Rapid City in 1941, Black Hills Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-forprofit financial cooperative serving more than 89,000 members. The community-chartered credit union has locations in Rapid City, Custer, Eagle Butte, Hot Springs, Pierre, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Sturgis, and Wall, South Dakota. For more information, visit bhfcu.com.