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Foundation Elects John Andrew Gallery and Robin M. Tasco to Board of Directors

Ed Bacon Foundation Elects John Andrew Gallery and Robin M. Tasco to Its Board of Directors

At its Quarterly Board Meeting held at the Charter High School for Architecture and Design on Thursday, July 14, 2005, the Ed Bacon Foundation elected John Andrew Gallery and Robin M. Tasco to its Board of Directors. On the Board, Mr. Gallery and Ms. Tasco join a host of leaders in urban design, business, and civic life from Philadelphia and New York, dedicated to preserving and advancing the vision and legacy of Philadelphia's renowned, 95-year-old, former city planner Edmund N. Bacon.

John Andrew Gallery has worked closely with Mr. Bacon in a variety of roles since 1964. He is currently Executive Director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and is a Partner at Urban Partners. He sits on the board of YouthBuild Charter School, an institution he helped establish. Previously, Mr. Gallery created the Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development and served as its first Director. He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania Fells Center, Harvard University, and University of Texas at Austin. He was Coordinator and Vice President of Development, as well as Consultant to the Mayor, on the Philadelphia Bicentennial Corporation, and was the Senior Urban Designer at the Philadelphia City Planning Commission responsible for the final design of Market East. Mr. Gallery sits on a variety of other boards and has published several architectural guides as well as numerous articles.

Robin M. Tasco currently works as Business Representative and Community Liaison for Electricians I.B.E.W. Local 98. Ms. Tasco, a member of Local 98 for 18 years, is one of the most active union representatives in Philadelphia. She has worked on a number of the city's major recent development projects, and serves as Local 98's representative to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and A.F.L.-C.I.O. Ms. Tasco travels throughout the country providing business information for subcontractors and educational institutions. She additionally founded Women's Rap Group, an organization for minority female professionals, and engages in significant community service.

The Ed Bacon Foundation's Board of Directors is excited to welcome Mr. Gallery and Ms. Tasco. The Board believes that both new Directors will bring valuable experience and expertise that will play an important role in helping the Foundation advance its mission. In accepting the Foundation's nominations, Mr. Gallery and Ms. Tasco have both expressed their own admiration for Mr. Bacon's significant contributions to Philadelphia's built environment.