The Foundation recently announced a three-year commitment of funding and partnership with Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) to support PlanItGreen, the Foundation’s environmental sustainability program in the West Cook region.
“We’re grateful to the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation for their confidence and support in facilitating PlanItGreen,” said Gary Cuneen, founder and executive director of SGA. “This three-year commitment reaffirms the Foundation’s belief in this partnership to engage the businesses and institutions in Oak Park, River Forest and neighboring communities in relationship to climate, equity and sustainability.”
“Seven Generations Ahead has been an ideal partner on PlanItGreen, and we are pleased to continue to work closely with them as they implement several new and existing initiatives around clean energy and sustainability in the West Cook region over the next three years,” President & CEO Carrie Summy said.
Created in 2011, the PlanItGreen program is a collaboration between the Foundation, SGA and leaders from local governing bodies, public institutions and community organizations. Its aim is to enhance the sustainability, vibrancy and quality of life in Oak Park, River Forest and neighboring communities through strategies and practices ranging from food waste composting to renewable energy plans to electric vehicle infrastructure.
“This is another example of our shift to trust-based philanthropy. We value our long-standing partnership with Seven Generations Ahead. Providing multi-year funding is respectful and responsive to their consistent hard work. Participating more actively in the broad collaboration further builds our relationship with them and other civic and institutional partners, and ultimately generates the community-driven, collective solutions we all hope to achieve.”
– Carrie Summy, OPRFCF President & CEO
Cuneen echoed the sentiment. “Multi-year funding provides more of a sense of groundedness and gives us long-term security to make decisions and investments that may have some longer term impact,” he said. “It allows us to focus more time on the actual work, supporting the partnerships and initiatives that are essential to our collective vision.”
In 2026, the program will focus on six primary initiatives:
- Equity in Sustainability: Engaging low and moderate income residents and residents of color in sustainability by connecting them with resources for reduced-rate solar energy and energy efficiency upgrades.
- Clean Energy: Driving the development and procurement of solar array installations and other renewable energy options at the village level through a variety of tactics.
- Expand C4: Continuing to develop and expand the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4) in West Cook County. C4 is a coalition of communities participating in joint sustainability and equity goal targets.
- Youth Leadership: Developing the next generation of youth sustainability leadership through climate education, local advocacy and programs like a youth delegation to the UN’s COP31 Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
- Cross Agency Sustainability Exchange (CASE): Creating a vehicle for collaboration across community school districts and the Village of Oak Park to enact green initiatives.
- Education and Engagement: Educating community residents, youth and leaders on climate strategies; the interconnection between health, climate, jobs and equity; and replicable sustainability projects and strategies.
To learn more about PlanItGreen, visit oprfcf.org/planitgreen.