Steve Oram and Lesley Moss are the principals of Oram and Moss, a boutique estate planning and wealth preservation law firm located in Rockville. What makes Steve Oram notable is his dedication to philanthropy. He believes that a significant difference can be made. “If I leave a legacy,” he says, “it’ll be that my efforts succeeded in improving health care.” Two charitable organizations hold special places in Steve’s heart: the Give Back to Utica Fund and Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Steve enjoys mentoring young adults, as well as other lawyers, by helping them find their path in life. As an undergraduate, Steve was the recipient of three life-changing internships in his hometown of Utica, New York. He never forgot the experiences, which included working directly for Governor Nelson Rockefeller. In 2007, with the help of the local community foundation in Utica, he created ‘Give Back to Utica’ fund. The fund creates grants that inspire young people to discover their community. Interns have been placed with the Utica Zoo, the Utica Roasting Company, the Mayor’s office, the County Executive’s office, among others. In appreciation, Mayor Robert Palmieri proclaimed August 3rd to be forever known as “Give Back to Utica Day!”
Every year Steve hears from the students who have benefited from Give Back to Utica. Caitlin Snyde’s experience working in a lab at The Masonic Medical Research Institute taught her that “I have a love for medical research and want to pursue a career involving it.” Michael Colocho said: “My internship taught me many valuable skills… and will help better my future career and make a fulfilling impact on the community”.
Locally, Steve is honored to be on the board of a client’s family foundation and has assisted in the gifting of millions of dollars to Children’s National Hospital, as well as other local health care organizations. DeAnn Marshall, President of the Children’s Foundation, says: “Steve has supported grants in excess of $10.5 million to children’s pediatric research through the funding of capital projects and bolstering advocacy efforts throughout the United States in the areas of neuroscience and cardiology.”