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Where Impact Lives: How Ferguson Helps Build Homes and Hope

A home is more than a roof and four walls. It’s stability, security and a space to dream. It’s where memories are made, traditions take root and futures begin.

That’s why Ferguson, the largest North American distributor, works so closely with specialized professionals, offering expertise and a wide range of products and services from plumbing, HVAC, appliances, and lighting to PVF, water, wastewater solutions and more.

“We invest deeply in helping families achieve the dream of homeownership because we know the impact a home can have on a person’s life; it’s where stability starts and possibilities grow,” says Melissa Hazelwood, the company’s Director of Social Impact.

“As a business, Ferguson helps build the infrastructure that supports daily life, such as homes, schools, hospitals and entire communities,” says Hazelwood. “We provide access to water and help keep people warm and safe. Through Ferguson Cares, we take those same skills and apply them to strengthen the communities we live and work in. That’s real impact—and that’s what drives us.”

That commitment comes to life in community partnerships like the one with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.

A Hand Up, Not a Handout

Ferguson’s long-standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg is a powerful example of how impact comes to life.

Hazelwood, now Ferguson’s Director of Social Impact, still remembers her first meeting with Habitat’s then-CEO Janet V. Green, more than a decade ago.

“I thought they gave houses away,” Hazelwood recalls. “Janet quickly corrected me—‘No, it’s a hand up, not a handout.’”

That moment reshaped how Ferguson understood Habitat’s mission and helped inspire a stronger, company-wide commitment to the cause. Since then, the company has leaned in on donating rough and finished plumbing to every Habitat home and serving as the headline sponsor for the annual Raise the Roof event.

“When you realize how hard these families work, how much they earn their place in that home—it hits you. It’s not just about building houses; it’s about helping people create their dream—a place where they can build a future and thrive.”

The Heart Behind the Hardware

Ferguson may specialize in the behind-the-scenes components that make homes livable—water systems, HVAC, fire safety—but it’s their people who bring the heart.

Ferguson’s first CEO, David Peebles, said in the 1960s “don’t just slap your check down, slap your heart down with it.”

That is probably why, when Ferguson organizes volunteer days on Habitat construction sites, slots fill up fast.

Associates from across the company—executives included—eagerly show up, tool belt in hand.

“I remember a hot summer build where our Senior Vice President and his wife were literally up on the roof hammering shingles,” Hazelwood says.

That’s the culture Ferguson has built: one where giving back is part of the job.

“The harder the work, the faster the volunteer list fills up.”

More Than a Moment

At every Habitat home dedication, Hazelwood finds herself watching the families sitting in the front row, waiting for the moment they finally receive their house keys.

“It’s almost always bittersweet,” she says. “I’m overjoyed for them—and at the same time reminded how hard it is for families to get to that moment. Habitat opens a door that would otherwise stay shut. And behind that door? A future.”

A home means stability. It means strength. It’s the first step toward building intergenerational wealth—a critical piece of economic mobility that so many families are denied.

“Habitat doesn’t just sell people houses,” she says. “They provide a chance to own their future.”

Impact Beyond the Build

Ferguson’s commitment to community doesn’t stop with Habitat. As a company rooted in water, housing and skilled trades, their impact spans essential industries—and essential human needs.

Like clean water access.

“There are more than two million people in our own country who can’t turn on a tap,” Hazelwood says. “Access to water isn’t just a global issue—it’s right here in the U.S., and it has huge implications for health, education, and economic development.”

Or workforce development.

Ferguson also invests in helping train the next generation of skilled tradespeople—many of whom will one day build, repair and maintain the homes that shelter our communities.

“We know the future of housing depends on the people who build it,” Melissa says. “And we want to be part of that solution.”

Hometown Heart

Ferguson began in Newport News in 1953. Today, with over 35,000 employees across North America, the company is still deeply connected to the community that shaped it.

“A thriving hometown is good for business,” Hazelwood says. “More than that—it’s good for people. We want our associates to live in communities where they feel safe, supported and proud.”

That’s why partnerships like Habitat matter. They’re more than charitable—they’re structural, helping build systems that support people for the long haul.

Celebrating 40 Years of Impact

Ferguson’s unwavering support highlights the power of Habitat for Humanity’s mission. As Habitat PGW celebrates 40 years of building homes, communities, and hope, we’re sharing 40 inspiring stories of transformation, featuring the individuals, families, and organizations forever changed by this work.

Stay tuned for more stories of that show what’s possible when people come together to build something bigger. And if Ferguson’s story inspires you, consider joining our mission by volunteering, donating or simply spreading the word. Because together, we’re building more than homes. We’re building hope.