For more than three decades, Portland General Electric's longtime community partner, Friends of Trees has brought people together to grow healthy communities through planting and caring for trees and natural areas.

On Sunday, April 27, PGE joined Friends of Trees in celebrating an incredible milestone.

To a roar of cheers, Friends of Trees planted its one millionth tree at its headquarters in Northeast Portland. It was a touching moment for the organization and the more than thousands of volunteers over the past 36 years who have helped Friends of Trees reach this landmark moment, many of them PGE employees.

"How did we get here? Through the power of 75,000 volunteers. Our mission is to build community through tree planting, and the community part is so important. This is what makes the magic happen, and I'm feeling it today," said Friends of Trees executive director, Yashar Vasef.

In true Friends of Trees fashion, Vasef and PGE CEO, Maria Pope gave celebratory remarks - looking back on this successful partnership - from the bed of a Friends of Trees' pickup truck.

Since 1989, PGE has supported Friends of Trees' mission with the shared belief of investing in the environmental health and success of our communities by planting native trees and shrubs. As Portland General Electric pursues its own clean energy goals, the company recognizes trees and plants as a key part of a comprehensive climate strategy.

"This achievement is the result of decades of partnership, thousands of volunteers and a shared belief in the power of community to shape a healthier, more resilient future," said Pope. "Thank you to Friends of Trees for more than 30 years of leadership-and to every volunteer who helped get us here."

As PGE and Friends of Trees are dedicated to growing community greenery, both organizations are committed to thoughtful tree selection and planting education. PGE's "right tree, right place" initiative provides guidance on where trees can grow and thrive for decades without interfering with powerlines or other utility equipment.

With one million trees planted as far north as Vancouver, Washington and as far south as Eugene, Oregon, Friends of Trees' work isn't close to finished. The organization is now plotting where its next million trees will be planted.

To learn more about Friends of Trees, head to FriendsofTrees.org .