In celebration of Earth Day, NBC Universal is stepping up its "Green" community outreach throughout the week, as part of its ongoing "Green Is Universal" initiative.The project is part of "MillionTreesNYC," a program launched by the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, which seeks to plant and care for one million trees throughout New York City's five boroughs by 2017. Bette Midler, founder of the NYRP, kicked off Earth Day today by planting a tree in East Harlem, New York at Martin Luther King Jr. Housing Campus (word is Bette celebrates every year by planting a tree!). NYRP partners with individuals, community-based groups, and public agencies to restore and develop under-resourced parks, community gardens, and other open spaces in New York City. source

Photo credit Donna Ward/Getty Images

Here's a look at what the NYRP does:

A NYC Community Garden before:

A NYC Community Garden after:

Photos via NYRP website

Learn more about Bette's NYRP and how to get involved at the project's website!