President and CEO Chris McCarthy receives HOPE Award for Leadership at dinner and ceremony in Washington, D.C.

HOPE Award Winners Remove Barriers to Minority Homeownership

On May 12, Nashville Area Habitat president and CEO Chris McCarthy accepted the national HOPE (Home Ownership Participation for Everyone) Award for Leadership in Washington, D.C. She was selected from three finalists and 100 nominations nationwide and is the first Tennessean ever to receive this award. Award winners were chosen based on impact, innovation, minority focus, contributions to affordable housing and minority acceptance.

Chris will donate her $10,000 honorarium to Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity community parks in honor of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors (GNAR) and her husband, John, who inspired her to enter the nonprofit business.

Attending the event were Chris’ sister Elizabeth Greene and her husband, Robert Greene, who live in Arlington, Va., as well as D.C. resident Alan Roe, son of past board member and Nashville attorney John Roe, and Alan’s sister and attorney Lillian Roe Gilmer. Guests from Tennessee and Nashville included GNAR member and past Tennessee Association of Realtors (TAR) president, Mike Gaughan; TAR executive vice president Steve Harding; National Association of Realtors Region 4 vice president Jewell McKinney; Price Lechleiter and Mike Nichols, Zeitlin & Co., Realtors; Judy Ransom and Don Klein, GNAR; Alice Walker, The Wilson Group; Lucy Smith, Fridrich & Clark Realty; Mandy Wachtler, Pilkerton Realtors; and Kendra Cooke, Crye-Leike, Realtors.

This year’s HOPE Awards winners represent the efforts of countless individuals and organizations across the country committed to closing the minority housing gap. Award recipients are selected for their outstanding leadership and achievement in helping minority families realize and sustain their dreams of homeownership, forever enhancing and changing their lives.

The 2009 HOPE Awards winners were: Korean Churches for Community Development, Los Angeles (Education Award); Illinois Assistive Technology Program, Springfield, Ill. (Finance Award); Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina, Durham, N.C. (Media Award); Chris McCarthy, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity (Leadership Award); and Affordable Homes of South Texas Inc., McAllen, Texas (Project of the Year Award).

On May 12 the winners presented their programs and answered questions from journalists and industry experts at a symposium moderated by national real estate columnist Ken Harney. Later that evening, HOPE Awards winners were recognized at a gala dinner and ceremony at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Sachi Koto, former anchor of CNN Headline News, was emcee for the event. Each HOPE Award winner received a $10,000 honorarium and a $1,500 gift card from Lowe’s Home Improvement, which sponsored the awards.

The HOPE Awards is a national industry awards program that was created in 2001 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing minority homeownership, revitalizing communities and expanding affordable housing opportunities. The awards are conferred every other year.

The HOPE Awards are sponsored by a partnership of real estate organizations: the Asian Real Estate Association America, Chinese American Real Estate Professionals Association, Chinese Real Estate Association of America, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, and the National Association of Realtors®.

A panel of distinguished judges selected the final winners from more than 100 applications. The judges were Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.); Nicolas P. Retsinas, director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University; Steven Nesmith, former Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and partner, Holland & Knight; Judge Lillian K. Sing, San Francisco Superior Court.

GNAR nomination results in recognition for Nashville Area Habitat

Nashville Area Habitat President and CEO Chris McCarthy was nominated for the HOPE Award by local organization Greater Nashville Association of Realtors (GNAR).

“What great news to hear that Chris was named the winner of the Leadership category of the HOPE Awards!” said Mike Nichols, president of GNAR. “The vision she has provided for Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity and for affordable housing in Nashville, is nothing short of exceptional. The hundreds of families living in Habitat communities Providence Park, Timberwood, and Rainwood are evidence of her deep commitment to Habitat for Humanity’s mission of providing safe, decent housing for God’s people in need. It was an honor for us to nominate her for this recognition. ”

About GNAR

GNAR has been involved with Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity since 1997 and has funded 12 Nashville Area Habitat homes. GNAR members volunteer in shifts for eight days to construct each home. Proceeds from the organization’s annual golf tournament benefit this effort.

GNAR has been providing services to real estate professionals since 1891. Membership benefits and services range from professional development and education to networking opportunities; from legislative and community involvement to commitment to the REALTOR® code of ethics and its proper enforcement.

For more information about the HOPE awards and the 2009 winners, visit www.hopeawards.org.

Pictured at the national HOPE Awards gala are (L to R) Price Lechleiter, Zeitlin & Co. Realtors; Judy Ransom, Greater Nashville Association of Realtors; Alice Walker, The Wilson Group; Mike Nichols, Zeitlin & Co. Realtors; Chris McCarthy; John McCarthy; Lucy Smith, Fridrich & Clark Realty; Mandy Wachtler, Pilkerton Realtors; Kendra Cooke, Crye-Leike Realtors; and Don Klein, Greater Nashville Association of Realtors.