The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust to encourage local companies and employees to experience nature while caring for their green spaces.

The Greenway Corporate Champions partnership provides opportunity for local business participation in volunteer stewardship events at Eastside parks. On the corporate side, the partnership gives local companies access to sustainability strategies at higher levels.

“This partnership is part of a growing movement to get businesses and their employees involved with environmental stewardship,” said Jeremy Littman, spokesperson for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.

The partnership features four levels of participation for companies — the Watershed at $1,000, Highlands at $3,000, Treeline at $5,000 and Summit at $10,000. All contributed funds go toward supporting the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and its mission to preserve and enhance outdoor recreation by mobilizing volunteers, engaging youth and restoring natural habitats.

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust was founded in 1991 and has since worked to maintain 1.5 million acres of landscape between the Puget Sound and central Washington. The trust has promoted public land acquisitions, connected a continuous regional trail system, preserved rural lifestyles and educated locals about forests and wildlife through the help of thousands of volunteers.

“Greenway Corporate Champions continues a long tradition of businesses coming together to support the green spaces that are right in our backyard,” said Jon Hoekstra, executive director of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, in a press release. “Deeper engagement and use of the Greenway benefits companies, their employees and our communities. This partnership channels the energy of our outdoor-loving community toward a sustainable future.”

At the beginning of may, Quadrant Homes, AAA Washington and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) had signed up to participate in the Greenway Corporate Champions partnership.

“We know our customers and communities value the environment, and PSE has been working for decades to protect it,” said Andy Wappler, spokesperson for PSE, in a press release. “We are honored to be recognized as a Greenway Corporate Champion as we continue our 28-year partnership with the Greenway and our ongoing shared commitment to working together to preserve our natural environment for future generations.”

According to Littman, the companies have provided employees with access to partnership volunteer events at local parks in Bellevue and invitations to special events as they’re scheduled by the partnership.