Miami, Florida – American Express announced this week the Root For Our City Challenge, an initiative to help make eight U.S. cities cleaner, greener and more beautiful. The company is committing $1 million toward tree planting projects and is encouraging the local community to participate in helping the City of Miami secure the largest portion of the grant money. In addition to the City of Miami, participating cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

American Express’ Root For Our City Challenge is part of the company’s commitment to community improvement and the environment. Cardmembers can vote for City of Miami with each purchase at a participating merchant in the City of Miami such as Jungle Island, Bongo’s Café, California Pizza Kitchen, just to name a few. At the conclusion of the American Express Root For Our City Challenge on October 31, 2008, the city with the most merchant votes will receive the largest share of the $1 million dollar grant. 

“Trees make a huge difference in our cities. They help to offset carbon emissions, beautify an area and create a positive impact on the local economy,” said Kathy King, vice president of marketplace development, American Express Merchant Services. “Our goal with the Root For Our City Challenge is to engage citizens across the nation in a collaborative effort to help green the urban settings in which they live and work.”

“The City of Miami is working towards meeting the goal of increasing the tree canopy as a community, one step at a time,” said Robert Ruano, Director of Grants and Sustainable Initiatives.  “We encourage our City of Miami residents to join us by patronizing vendors and by participating in the American Express Root For Our City Challenge and support our effort.”  As part of this continual greening effort, the City of Miami will be hosting a series of tree plantings throughout neighborhoods that are in most need of replenishing the tree canopy.  

The American Express Root For Our City Challenge runs from now through October 31, 2008, with the winning city announced in mid November 2008. Each of the eight participating cities will receive $100,000 for tree planting projects, and the city with the most votes will receive an additional $200,000. The City of Miami project plans include planting trees throughout the City to increase the tree canopy to thirty percent. 

More information about the American Express Root For Our City Challenge can be found at http://www.rootforourcity.com/

About the City of Miami
The Miami Office of Sustainable Initiative (MSI) helps coordinate the City's environmental programs to ensure the City of Miami becomes a model for environmental best practices through community involvement and education to create a sustainable Miami.  For more information, visit www.miamigov.com/msi

About American Express
Giving back is a core value and being a "good citizen" is a hallmark of American Express. Often credited as the first company to launch a cause-related marketing campaign via a program benefiting the Statue of Liberty in 1983, American Express has continued to roll out successful initiatives around the world that enhance communities and bring support to important causes.

Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe which welcome American Express-branded Cards. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

Terms and Conditions
Cardmembers may participate in the American Express Root For Our City Challenge by simply paying with any American Express® Card when you see the tree icon displayed at participating merchants in each of the eight participating cities to vote for that city from September 22 – October 31, 2008. The city with the most votes will receive the most funding for trees. Terms and conditions apply. To learn more, visit http://www.rootforourcity.com/.