Our Vision
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Our Mission
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Local Community
An ecumenical group of individuals formed this local affiliate in 1985. Since then, our affiliate has built and renovated over 210 houses in our local community!
Habitat for Humanity traditionally relies on the generosity of supporters, from individuals and civic groups to churches and corporations, to fund our activities.
A decent home provides families with the strength, stability, and independence they need to create a better life for themselves and their families.
Who We Serve
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg serves Virginia families with low and moderate incomes in the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg, plus the counties of Charles City, James City, New Kent and York.
All Are Welcome
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Founded in Americus, Georgia, USA, in 1976, Habitat for Humanity today operates around the globe and has helped build, renovate and repair more than 5,000,000 decent, affordable houses sheltering more than 29 million people worldwide.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
Keith D. Vander Vennet, President, is the Senior Vice President for the East Region of Ferguson. He is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and has been a Habitat Board Member since 2014. Ferguson donates all the plumbing supplies used in Habitat homes built in the service area for Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.
Jim Golini, President-Elect, is Vice President of Residential Trade for Ferguson, having worked for the company since 2005. He is a graduate of Thomas Edison State University and has completed business programs at Harvard Business School, University of North Carolina and University of Virginia.
Brandon Knight, Treasurer, is Program Director at Woolpert, an architecture, engineering, geospatial and strategic consulting firm. Knight previously worked for 16 years at W.M. Jordan Company, a Habitat community partner. He holds a Master of Business from William and Mary and an undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech.
Curtis Lassiter, Secretary, a financial advisor with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, has been in the financial industry for the past 15+ years. A graduate of James Madison University, he was also a member of JMU’s Men’s track and field team.
Lindsey Carney, Of Counsel, a managing partner with Carney Patterson Meade, PLC, has extensive experience as a commercial and residential real estate and business attorney. She is a graduate of the Marshall Wythe School of Law at William and Mary and holds an undergraduate degree from Christopher Newport University.
Valarie Miller, At Large, loves assisting people with buying, selling and property management and has worked in real estate for the past 20+ years, most recently at Liz Moore and Associates.
Charlene Kruger Yackanich, At Large, is a residential real estate agent with eXp Realty in the greater Williamsburg area. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Organizational Management and Leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Stephen Abbitt, Immediate Past President, is President of Abbitt Realty Company, a longtime community partner of the local Habitat affiliate. He has served on Habitat’s Board of Directors since 2011 and was instrumental in The House that Abbitt Realty Built, a Habitat home sponsored by Abbitt Realty in 2020.
Donald B. Brown
Northwestern Mutual
Paul Criner
Criner Remodeling
Brian Fields
Newport News Shipbuilding
Cynthia Hall
Walmart & Home At Last Living
Seletia (CeCe) Hamiel
Wells Fargo
David L. Hancock
Morgan James Publishing
Alyssa Kelley
A Working Home
Robert (Rob) Lefkowicz
Langley Federal Credit Union
Denise McRoberts
BayPort Credit Union
Kelly Peck
TowneBank
Marcia “Cia” Price
Virginia House of Delegates
Sherry Thacker
Old Point National Bank
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Advisory Council is comprised of leaders in the community who also have a commitment to Habitat for Humanity. The combination of understanding and community credibility allows the Advisory Council to serve as valuable consultants and advisors to the affiliate. The Advisory Council communicates the mission and goals to the general public and provides responses and insight to Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg.
Robert T. Criner,
Immediate Past Chair
Phyllis Henderson
Kathy Hornsby
Paul Marcus
Starr Mayer
C. Mike Petters
Alexis Swann
Tina Vick
Joe Witt, Chair
