The Philadelphia-based Ed Bacon Foundation Adopts Its Inaugural Board of Directors

The Ed Bacon Foundation

The Ed Bacon Foundation, named in honor of Philadelphia's renowned former City Planning Director, Edmund N. Bacon, EFAIA, and established in November, 2004, has recently adopted its inaugural Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is comprised of local and national figures, including major contributors to the fields of planning, architecture, urban development, and civic life.

The Foundation's Honorary Directors are Mr. Bacon; Ernesta Ballard, former Director of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; I.M. Pei, Pritzker-Prize winning, world-renowned architect; and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell.

The founding Directors are Gregory Heller, Director of Planning for the Parkside Historic Preservation Corporation, who previously worked with Mr. Bacon on his memoirs; and Andrew Hohns, Managing Director for Cohen Bros. and Co., the Philadelphia Investment Bank.

The Foundation's additional Directors are Hilda Bacon, Mr. Bacon's daughter and Coordinator for Cultural Activities at Bancroft NeuroHealth in New Jersey; James L. Brown IV, a recognized expert in the field of historic development, and Executive Director of the Parkside Historic Preservation Corporation in Philadelphia; Alexander Garvin, President and CEO of Alex Garvin & Associates, Inc., in New York City, Managing Director of Planning for NYC2012, and Adjunct Professor of Urban Planning and Management at Yale University; Jackie Gusic, Associate at Friday Architects/Planners in Philadelphia; Edward Hillis, President and CEO of Philadelphia-based Domus Construction, Inc.; and Alexander "Pete" Hoskins, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo.

According to Gregory Heller, the Foundation's co-founder and President, "We have assembled a Board of Directors that is truly world-class. The Board is composed of people who care deeply about Mr. Bacon and his work in Philadelphia. Under their capable leadership, I am confident that the Foundation will bring honor to Mr. Bacon's name and legacy, creating an organization that can truly make a difference in Philadelphia for generations to come."

The idea of the Foundation was conceived in the spring of 2003, through conversations between Mr. Heller and Mr. Bacon. The Foundation seeks to advance and preserve Mr. Bacon's vision and legacy in Philadelphia. The Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization, was incorporated in the fall of 2004, and was publicly launched at Freeman's Auction's Bicentenary Celebration, honoring Ed Bacon. All proceeds from the event went toward the Foundation. The Board of Directors held its first meeting on April 14, 2005. Please find more information on the Ed Bacon Foundation at www.edbacon.org.

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