Habitat for Humanity Tucson CEO Retires, Supports New Leadership Transition
TUCSON, ARIZONA (Jan. 10, 2022) — Habitat for Humanity Tucson today announced that the nonprofit’s Chief Executive Officer, T. VanHook, has retired as CEO, and will begin an interim consulting position to support the non-profit’s leadership transition process in 2022.
VanHook’s decision to retire comes after 30 years of service to the Tucson region and its residents in various leadership roles, including more than 20 years of service to Habitat for Humanity Tucson as both staff and volunteer. Prior to Habitat, VanHook dedicated her time to community-based human services, neighborhood, housing, and transit programs for public, private, and non-profit organizations. The majority of her career has been spent leveraging her knowledge and experience to advance community and governmental collaborative projects for special needs and low-income populations.
“The local nonprofit community and housing sector has benefitted from T.’s leadership, expertise, and passion to improve affordable housing. The Habitat Tucson staff, board, and our many partners feel privileged to have worked with T. and are enormously grateful for her many contributions,” said Lisa Cooke, Habitat Tucson Board President. “Habitat for Humanity Tucson is poised for success in 2022 and beyond.”
Throughout her career, VanHook was responsible for securing and managing more than $150 million in federal grants to support for Southern Arizona residents and its homeless population throughout [Southern Arizona] while serving as CEO of Habitat, CEO of RISE, Inc., Special Projects Director for COPE housing, homeless, and HIV prevention services, and Town of Marana Director of Community Development and Neighborhood Services.
“I’ve been privileged to work at Habitat with so many committed staff, volunteers, residents, and community leaders to find long-term equitable housing solutions for our community,” said VanHook. “I leave Habitat with the confidence that Habitat’s new leadership will take the organization to even greater heights.”
VanHook’s accomplishments during her leadership of Habitat for Humanity Tucson are many, including improving business operations systems, refining purchasing practices resulting in cost savings, fostering state-wide advocacy for affordable housing solutions, advancing sustainable solutions to poverty, including speaking to congress on issues surrounding women, poverty and housing, planning and hosting the first ever virtual World Habitat Day during the COVID-19 pandemic, and creating a fiscally sound organization that will reach even greater heights under its new leadership.
During VanHook’s leadership at Habitat, she guided the organization through the planning, construction, and completion of four neighborhoods. She also executed the planning and secured funding for the Connie Hillman Urban Construction Knowledge Center (CHUCK), a game-changing training facility that created skilled trades-workers and simultaneously improve the lack of affordable housing for local low-income families.
VanHook served on one of Habitat for Humanity International’s policy advisory committees, one of two American Champions for Habitat Bangladesh, and collaborated with international partners through Solid Ground to influence policy and practices to achieve lasting change and support safe housing around the globe.
Under VanHook’s leadership, Habitat for Humanity Tucson received the 2017 Affiliate of Distinction Award, the highest honor bestowed on a local organization. In 2016, Habitat Tucson received the Sam Mompongo Award for support of Habitat International’s mission around the world.
A graduate of the University of Arizona, VanHook currently serves as a Board Member of the Tucson Metro Chamber, a Board Member of the COPE Community Services Board of Directors, and a member of the Women’s President Organization of Tucson. Previously, she served as a Board Member of the Tucson Urban League, a member of the Arizona Town Hall, and an Officer of the National Association of Women in Construction.
About Habitat for Humanity Tucson
Habitat for Humanity Tucson offers an innovative solution to the crisis of affordable housing by giving a hand up, not a hand out. Habitat accomplishes this mission by building and repairing homes in partnership with the community and local families. Habitat for Humanity values inclusiveness and win/win partnerships, respect for the dignity of each person, and a commitment to deliver a strong return on the community’s investment in their work. To learn more and donate, visit HabitatTucson.org.
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