Partners’ Tenth Annual Bridge Builders Award Program
April 10, 2008
Willard InterContinental, Washington, DC

THIS YEAR’S BRIDGE BUILDERS ARE:

NATIONAL

Texas Pacific Group (award accepted by William K. Reilly), Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Environmental Defense and Natural Resources Defense Council for collaborating during the $45 billion buy-out of TXU Corp on an environmentally conscious pact, which will reposition the embattled power company as the new model for environmental responsibility. The partners’ “10-point plan” is notable for both its confluence of business decisions and its environmental concern that will scale back TXU’s coal building program and cut the company’s regulated pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and consumer electricity prices.

Andrew Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and its partners in building a greener America through the  “50 Million Tree Pledge” with The National Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service, where one million trees a year will be planted over the next 50 years in national forests around the country; the Institute for Renewable Fuels with Dr. Roger Beachy of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, which will work to develop acceptable and affordable alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources; and numerous other initiatives that make the company a leader with fuel-efficient cars and environmentally friendly programs.

Christine Todd Whitman and Parris Glendening for their collaboration to create an essential resource, the Governors’ Institute on Community Design, that advises and guides governors and other state leaders on addressing issues of growth and development in their states. The Governor’s Institute uses its knowledge and expertise to provide practical solutions to and an understanding of crucial community design issues.

Enterprise Community Partners and its Green Communities partners for collaborating with more than 25 developers, investors, builders and residents to create Green Communities, the first national green building program developed for affordable housing. Enterprise has made a commitment of $555 million to build more than 8,500 homes for low-income people and to bring environmentally sustainable development to the mainstream of the affordable housing industry.

CALIFORNIA

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Fabian Núñez for collaborating across party lines to enact a bipartisan environmental agenda that put the State of  California and its citizens first. Disregarding the political maneuvering and biased criticism that stalls progress, this unique agenda will preserve forests, water and air quality.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

The Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health and the Greater Homewood Community Corporation for partnering to design a community-based model for health promotion for older adults that is embedded within a social engagement program where older adults are placed in meaningful roles in public elementary schools throughout the city. This model, the Baltimore Experience Corps, brings the time, experience, and wisdom of older adults to bear in improving the academic and behavioral outcomes of children.

NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA

National Children’s Museum and Milton Peterson, developer for National Harbor, for working together to create a stronger region through the development of a successful mixed-use destination for residents and tourists in Prince George’s County, and helping link National Harbor, a new riverfront project, to the nation’s capital.

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