William Newton Hospital Earns 2024 Tree Campus Recognition from Arbor Day Foundation

Feb 10, 2025

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The Arbor Day Foundation named William Newton Hospital in Winfield a 2024 Tree Campus for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment, and community engagement.

“Healthcare institutions like William Newton Hospital are at the forefront of recognizing the impact nature can have on health,” said Michelle Saulnier, vice president of programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “By integrating trees and green spaces into their campuses, facilities not only create healing environments today, but also build a foundation for healthier, more resilient communities in the future.”

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More than a million supporters and partners have helped plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across 60 countries since 1972. The Tree Campus program recognizes schools, universities, and healthcare facilities that utilize trees to improve their communities.

“We are extremely proud of William Newton Hospital for earning this recognition. The trees planted in the new parking lot to provide shade and beauty are just the beginning of the work planned to be done to create a healthy and inviting hospital campus for our patients and the community,” said Julie Thompson, president of the Treealition of Winfield and Willy’s Waterers coordinator.

Thompson helped spearhead the initiative to add a dozen trees to the hospital campus following its parking lot renovation in 2023. Coined “Willy’s Waterers,” Thompson is among a group of volunteers who help care for the trees.

The Treealition of Winfield was created following the August 2023 storm that wiped out many trees in the community. This incentivized tree-loving entities in Winfield to optimize resources and collaborate to create the Treealition. Its mission is to, “To preserve, restore, and increase Winfield’s tree canopy through community collaboration,” with four focus areas: education, planting, nurturing, and encouraging enjoyment in outdoor spaces.

As a designated Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus, William Newton Hospital must uphold five standards including establish a tree advisory committee, maintain a facility tree care plan, complete a community forestry project, sponsor a celebration event that highlights the connection between trees and human health, and invest in a campus tree program.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees and green spaces are proven to improve health outcomes and reduce stress for both patients and caretakers. Trees also provide profound layers of good for the greater community, including combating extreme heat, improving air quality, and reducing flooding impacts.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. The Tree Campus program is operated with generous support from professional partner the Davey Tree Expert Company. Learn more about the program or how to apply.

Learn more about William Newton Healthcare Foundation’s mission to support the hospital and healthcare across south central Kansas.