July 11, 2016
For the Community Foundation’s Board Chair Tom Uhlman, a recent conversation with former President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalyn was not only a memorable life experience, but also a unique opportunity to swap stories on the power of community-level philanthropy.
Uhlman was in Georgia recently with other foundation and nonprofit leaders to see firsthand how Habitat for Humanity works locally and around the world, and the ways philanthropic families can engage the organization to improve communities they care about.
Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 6.8 million people improve their living conditions – through the work of more than 1,400 local affiliates and 70 country affiliates around the world. There are 13 Habitat for Humanity chapters in New Jersey, which have received support from many fundholders at the Community Foundation.
But the need remains enormous. According to Habitat, “there are nearly 2 billion people around the world who live in slum housing and more than 100 million are homeless.” This need was also apparent in New Jersey following the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. Habitat for Humanity was heavily involved in the state in the weeks and months after the storm, participating in clean-ups, home repairs, and new home construction.
While Uhlman will be transitioning off the Community Foundation’s board later this year, he says that his conversations with the Carters and Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford have only strengthened his desire to work with impact-driven community service organizations.
Uhlman remains an active member of the board of the College of Arts and Sciences Foundation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is working with the new Dean to set a strategy for the College. He is also a member of the Homeless Solutions board based in Morristown, New Jersey.
Given Tom Uhlman’s years of hard work on behalf of the Community Foundation, we know firsthand the value he will continue to bring to the nonprofit sector.
Click here to learn more about Habitat for Humanity and its work in your community.