Aaron founded the Taproot Foundation in 2001, 40 years after his grandfather, Joseph E. Slater, wrote the original blueprint for the Peace Corps. Inspired by the Peace Corps’ model for getting people to work together, Aaron created the Taproot Foundation to engage this country’s millions of business professionals in pro bono work building the infrastructure of the nonprofit sector.

As president of the Taproot Foundation, Aaron leads the development of the organization across the nation, as well as sets the strategy and vision behind the Foundation’s work. Under his direction, the Taproot Foundation has become the national leader in pro bono work, serving over 300 nonprofits each year across the country and setting the agenda for the development of the field.

Aaron graduated from the University of Michigan, where he was recognized for his volunteer work teaching creative writing at local correctional facilities. He currently serves on the Board of Public Architecture, a nonprofit that leverages the skills of architects and design professionals for public service. Aaron is a frequent speaker to the nonprofit and for-profit sectors on civic engagement, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management. His speaking engagements include:
• Minneapolis Corporate Volunteerism Council
• Contributions Committee of the Conference Board in Philadelphia
• Points of Light conference, Plenary Panel
• Commonwealth Club, San Francisco

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“How many of you own cars?” asked the Governor. A wave of hands went up.

“How many own cars with flex technology?” he continued, referring to new environmentally-friendly vehicles. Not a single hand. The Governor chuckled.

One more time, he prodded, “How many own SUVs?”

At the sight of dozens of hands raised, Governor Rendell had only one reply: “Sell them!”

And so it went. For forty minutes on Wednesday, September 12, 2007, the Governor of Pennsylvania discussed “The Future of Energy” with the eager students of WPBA, laying out his views on alternative fuels, climate change, and the way to a brighter tomorrow.

The event began with a presentation by the Executive Board giving the audience an overview of the organization and what it offers for students and faculty. Immediately following the presentation, Co-President Anthony W. Orlando introduced Governor Rendell.

“We were very excited to host the Governor,” Orlando later explained. “This year, energy and the environment will be a key issue of focus for our members. With the state legislature returning to session, this event was a great opportunity to hear the Governor explain the merits of his new Energy Independence Strategy.”

The Governor’s plan aims to replace every drop of oil that Pennsylvania imports from the Persian Gulf with homegrown biofuels by 2017. It is an ambitious plan, but as Orlando says, a necessary one.

“The goals outlined by the Governor are encouraging to our group,” says Orlando. “Throughout the year, our students will work with tenured faculty members and local community partners to study these issues, propose solutions, and advocate their implementation. Governor Rendell’s plan is a great step forward.”

Each year, WPBA selects 25 to 30 talented Penn students to develop policy proposals around important issues in Washington and beyond. To this end, bringing policymakers like Governor Rendell to share their insights with the students is a win-win for the students and the speakers.

Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania’s 45th Governor, began a second term of office on January 16,
2007, following a landslide re-election victory. As Governor, Rendell serves as chief executive of the nation’s 6th-most-populous state and oversees a $27.5 billion budget.

Under Governor Rendell’s leadership, Pennsylvania’s economy has rebounded sharply and continues to expand. Today, there are more jobs in Pennsylvania than ever before, with a net gain of more than 168,000 jobs since 2003. Pennsylvania now ranks 15th in the nation for job growth, up from 41st at the beginning of Governor Rendell’s first term.

From 1992 through 1999, Governor Rendell served as the 121st Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Among his many accomplishments as Mayor, Rendell eliminated a $250 million deficit; balanced the city’s budget and generated five consecutive budget surpluses; reduced business and wage taxes for four consecutive years; implemented new revenue-generating initiatives, and dramatically improved services to the City’s neighborhoods. The New York Times called the Philadelphia renaissance under Rendell “the most stunning turnaround in recent urban history.” Before serving as Mayor, Rendell was elected district attorney of the City of Philadelphia for two terms from 1978 through 1985.

The Governor, who served as general chair of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 Presidential election, has always been active in the community through a variety of memberships on boards, and also teaches government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania. An Army veteran, the Governor is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. 1965) and Villanova Law School (J.D. 1968).

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