Oram Foundation becomes active in NU
The fund, whose formal name is The Oram Foundation Inc., was established by Richard L. Oram, a 30-year veteran of the public transit industry and pioneer of the tax-free “transit benefit” field (employee benefits for transit commuting). While the fund initially focused on projects in many green areas, including recycling, city greening, and global warming, in late 2009 it decided to emphasize sustainable urban development projects over the next four years. This means that at least $1 million will be devoted to new urban types of projects.
To date, the fund has supported three projects directly related to New Urbanism, and it is in process of financing four more. In 2009 the Congress for New Urbanism received funds to support its strategic marketing activities, and the Center for Applied Transect Studies was given money for initial development of a curriculum and stimulus to have urban planning issues taught at the middle school level. (Wacker’s Manual of the Plan of Chicago was used nearly a century ago to teach Chicago’s eighth-graders about that city’s plan.)
More recently the fund became a lead sponsor of the American Makeover project, which will create a series of six videos promoting New Urbanism. Furthering what was begun with the popular Built to Last video released in 2009, the first of the new series, just released, is Sprawlanta.
The fund also expects to finance four new projects this June. One, in coordination with the US Green Building Council and Pace University’s Land Use Law Center, will develop LEED-ND planning tools.
Another, with Transportation Alternatives, will seek national exposure for street and pedestrian improvements recently put in place in New York City. The fund will assist Streetfilms in producing a video series, Ten Ways to Reduce Traffic. Finally, the fund plans to support CEOs for Cities’ promotion of walkability in its communications, including support for a book by planner and author Jeff Speck.
The Fund welcomes inquiries from eligible non-profit organizations. See www.enviro-urban.org.
