Edvest 529 Partners with Neighborhood Forest to Give Away Free Trees Throughout Wisconsin This Earth Day

published April 16, 2026

MADISON, Wis. (April 16, 2026) — In celebration of Earth Day, Edvest 529, Wisconsin’s direct‑sold college savings plan, is partnering with Neighborhood Forest, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring environmental responsibility, to give away thousands of free trees to children and families throughout Wisconsin.

Through this community‑focused initiative, participating schools and libraries will distribute free native trees to children to plant at home or in shared green spaces, helping families celebrate Earth Day while teaching kids about environmental stewardship, growth, and caring for the world around them.

Edvest 529 is sponsoring this statewide tree giveaway as part of its commitment to build bright futures for Wisconsin children. Just as a tree grows stronger over time with care and attention, an Edvest 529 college savings account is designed to grow through long‑term investing and the power of compounding, helping families prepare for future education expenses, including college tuition or trade school.

"By connecting environmental stewardship with education savings awareness, Edvest 529 hopes to inspire families to think about the future in meaningful, tangible ways," said Jessica Wetzel, Financial Capability Director for the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, administrator of the Edvest 529 College Savings Plan. "Opening an Edvest 529 account for a child does more than just help them out financially – it plants the seed early in life that higher education or career training after high school is possible."

Each child who participates will receive a native tree seedling selected for the local environment. Families will also receive planting and care instructions from Neighborhood Forest and information on saving for a child’s future with the Edvest 529 College Savings Plan.

Where Edvest 529 Is Partnering

Edvest 529 is partnering with more than two dozen schools and libraries, across Wisconsin in both urban and rural communities, to ensure children statewide can participate in this Earth Day initiative, including:

• Washburn Public Library, Washburn, Bayfield County
• Evelyn Golberg Briggs Memorial Library, Iron River, Bayfield County
• Loyal Elementary School, Loyal, Clark County
• Prairie du Chien Public Library, Prairie du Chien, Crawford County
• One City Schools, Monona, Dane County
• Milltown Public Library, Milltown, Polk County
• Rusk County Community Library, Ladysmith, Rusk County
• Tri-County Schools, Plainfield, Waushara County

Tree distribution will take place during Earth Week. Participating students and families are encouraged to share photos of their newly planted trees as they grow, creating a lasting reminder of Earth Day 2026 and the role local communities play in shaping a greener future.

About Neighborhood Forest

Neighborhood Forest is a nonprofit organization that inspires youth and families to become environmental stewards by providing free native trees and plants to children every Earth Day, supported by year-round programming. Its mission is to nurture environmental responsibility, deepen connections with nature, and cultivate greener communities. For more information on Neighborhood Forest, visit neighborhoodforest.org.

About Edvest 529

For more than 25 years, Edvest 529 – Wisconsin’s only direct-sold 529 college savings plan – has been helping families save for higher education expenses. Account owners can choose from 25 investment portfolios, access easy-to-use savings tools, and take advantage of triple tax benefits, including a 2026 state income tax deduction on contributions made to an Edvest 529 account for Wisconsin taxpayers, up to $5,280 per beneficiary for single filers or married couples filing jointly, or up to $2,640 for married couples filing separately, tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses.

Edvest 529 has no sales charges, enrollment fees, or annual account maintenance fees. In fact, Edvest 529 is one of the lowest-cost 529 college savings plans in the nation.¹

Want more details?

Find additional information on Edvest 529, including investment options, fees, and frequently asked questions, visit Edvest.com, or follow Edvest 529 on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Watch our video "What is the best option for college savings"—part of the College Savings Connection series—to learn more about how a 529 plan works and how it can benefit your family.

###

Footnotes

1. To learn more about Wisconsin’s Edvest 529 College Savings Plan, its investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses, see the Plan Description at Edvest.com before investing. Read it carefully. Investments in the Plan are neither insured nor guaranteed and there is the risk of investment loss. Consult your legal or tax professional for tax advice. If the funds aren't used for qualified higher education expenses, a federal 10% penalty tax on earnings (as well as federal and state income taxes) may apply. Check with your home state to learn if it offers tax or other benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, or protection from creditors for investing in its own 529 plan. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, is the distributor and underwriter for Wisconsin's Edvest 529 College Savings Plan.
2. ¹Source: ISS Market Intelligence 529 College Savings Fee Analysis 4Q 2025. Edvest 529’s average annual asset-based fees are 0.15% for all portfolios compared to 0.49% for all 529 plans, 0.85% for advisor-sold plans, and 0.34% for direct-sold plans.↩

5270461