Bio: Drew Becher
President of PHS

New York Restoration Project
2006 to Present
Executive Director
Led the Restoration Project founded by Bette Midler whose mission is to improve the quality of life through greening and beautification of underserved communities throughout New York City.

• Over three years, grew the annual operating budget from $5 million to over $13 million.
• Developed many innovative initiatives to increase visibility and impact including,
• Spearheading the MillionTreesNYC program, with a goal of planting one million trees over the course of a decade. Two years into the initiative, NYRP has planted 310,000 trees and attracted international recognition.
• Created NYRP corporate giving plan which increased funding by 250% and included partnerships with BNP Paribas, Bloomberg LP, Target, Home Depot, Toyota and other organizations.
• Over three years, raised $6M for capital projects to revitalize 22 community gardens on more than 140 acres of vacant land providing innovative clean, green spaces for the enjoyment of New York City residents.
• Increased access to educational programming for school aged children by over 50%. The reformulated environmental education programming now reaches over 10,000 children in underserved communities.

Washington, D.C.
2004 to 2006
Deputy Director, Office of Planning
Led planning and economic development initiatives for the District of Columbia

• Led the creation and implementation of the Department of Environment, which is responsible for the district’s sustainability agenda.
• Led the Capital Space Initiative, which studies and plans open space goals and management issues.

Associate Director, Department of Parks and Recreation
Led facility management, planning, natural resources and capital project divisions of the department

Chicago, Illinois
1996 to 2004
Chief of Staff, Chicago Park District
Under Mayor Richard Daley, oversaw daily operations of more than 4,000 municipal programs per year, $150 million budget, and 2,800 employees.

• Facilitated $10 million in annual savings while improving park maintenance by establishing a Department of Natural Resources to focus on land management.
• Led a $405 million Capital Improvement Program to renovate and enhance 253 field houses and recreation facilities and acquire land for neighborhoods lacking green space.
• Contributed to greening efforts that have resulted in Chicago being recently named to Forbes list of world’s most beautiful cities

1997 to 1999
Assistant to the Mayor

• Created the Greening Agenda focused on environmental awareness, drawing worldwide recognition to Chicago.
• Originated the Landscape Ordinance, which has earned nationwide praise for effectively obligating individual developments to supply beautification services.

1997: Assistant Director of Planning, Department of Cultural Affairs
1996 to 1997: Manager of Finance, Administration, Chicago Board of Education
1996: Assistant Commissioner, Department of General Services

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Rodale Institute, Board of Trustees
City Parks Alliance, Board of Trustees, National Organization
Green Roof for Healthy Cities Conference, Toronto
Member, American Planning Association
American Society of Landscape Architects

BORN: Dayton, Ohio

EDUCATION
 University of Cincinnati
BA, Urban Design and Planning, 1993

DePaul University, Chicago
Completed required courses for master’s degree in public administration, 1995

QUOTES:
“I’ve always thought that public space and the way people think about where they live are so interconnected. But the public spaces within neighborhoods have been long overlooked, and people are disconnected from their community. We want to reconnect them.” New York Observer

“You can’t expect people to thrive and survive without green space. Each neighborhood needs its own village green, its own little Central Park.”

 

For more information Contact:
Alan Jaffe at 215-988-8833
Laura Hoover at 215-988-8836