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ABOUT

Renew Communties Non-Profit

Love  In  Action

The name "Matthew Homes" comes from the Bible in Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus had just encouraged his listeners to live out the Beatitudes. Next he encouraged them to actively shine God's love and kindness to those nearby because this glorifies God. Thus, Matthew Homes were launched as a tangible expression of God's love for all. 

MISSION & VISION.

Community Revitalization

ReNew is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to transform and empower struggling communities. Our mission is to come alongside community leaders and residents by offering programs that work collaboratively with local businesses to increase jobs, provide attainable home ownership for those in need, and build career pathways for students, all with the goal of igniting a tipping point toward community revitalization.

Rebuilding and Restoring Hope

OUR STORY.

ReNew Communities seeks to cultivate a “tipping point” in which momentum in community revitalization “crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads” organically and rapidly throughout North Chicago. (Malcom Gladwell, The Tipping Point)

We think a growing number of engaged residents is the catalytic ingredient. A good job and a place to call home and raise a family are the foundations of thriving communities. 

Our business development and career pathway teams are cultivating jobs and pathways into good careers by collaborating with the city, chamber, schools, local businesses and non-profits. 

Our Matthew Homes teams are seeking to increase homeownership by 15%, primarily by providing opportunities for low and moderate-income families renting or working in North Chicago to own a home. Thriving communities generally have a 66% rate or greater of home ownership. North Chicago hovers around 34% home ownership. As home ownership increases so does safety, improved childhood academics, friendships among neighbors, family health, and family stability. ReNew Communities believes 300 new homeowners, or about a 15% increase in home ownership, represents the “tipping point” for North Chicago in which momentum “crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads” organically and rapidly throughout the city.

OUR BOARD

The People Behind the Passion

Mike Woodruff

Board Chair. Mike Woodruff has been the Lead Pastor at Christ Church for over 25 years, during which time it has expanded to four campuses and launched several significant ministries, including Renew Communities. Mike has authored hundreds of articles and numerous books, and serves on a variety of boards. He and Sheri have three grown sons and two granddaughters.

David Weil.

Board President & Executive Director. Dr. David Weil has a long history in management, teaching, and leading new initiatives in both corporate and church communities. In 2013, David and his wife moved into North Chicago to lead ReNew Communities. David is a Fire and Police Commissioner with North Chicago and served as a Trustee with Shields Township.

Jan Constantine

Board Vice President. Jan Constantine is a graduate of Purdue University’s Daniels School of Management, and has spent over thirty years in commercial financing and individual wealth management, with a certification as an affordable lending specialist. She recently retired and has obtained her real estate broker license to assist ReNew’s efforts in North Chicago. She is also a CBS Core Group leader and has been an active participant for twenty years.

David Dohnalek

Board Treasurer. David Dohnalek previously served as Senior Vice President & Treasurer of The Boeing Company. He also was Interim Chief Financial Officer for the company and Chair of its Investment Committee. David serves on the boards of Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals as well as Physicians Insurance. He also served on the boards of Chicago Public Library Foundation, Private Export Funding Corporation, National Merit Scholarship Corporation and World Business Chicago

Ted Yu

Board Secretary. Ted Yi is a recently retired law firm partner who specialized in commercial real estate transactions for over 40 years. He is a Life Trustee of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and serves as an appointed public member of the Illinois Real Estate Administration and Disciplinary Board

Garrett Dee

Board Member. Garrett Handley Dee is an attorney who practiced litigation and real estate law at Dentons. In addition to her legal career, she managed a nonprofit culinary training school, and led a public health-focused healthcare organization. She currently serves as Secretary of the Openlands Board of Directors and is a member of the Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.

Michael Nervick

Board Member. Mike Nervick, Founder of Sleek Technologies, has over 20 years of supply chain and logistics expertise, which includes founding and growing Advantage Freight Network to over $170M in just over 10 years. In 2016 he founded Sleek Technologies, where they provide techenabled software solutions that simplify logistics for shippers and carriers.

Eric Tienou

Board Member. Eric Tienou specializes in corporate finance, strategy and mergers & acquisitions. He is a former VP, Consumer Retail Group with Goldman Sachs. Previous work experience was with the Industrials Investment Banking Group at J.P. Morgan and also with PPG Industries. Prior to coming to ReNew, Eric served in several advisory capacities and also volunteered with a New York based nonprofit serving the working poor.

Volunteers
“North Chicago is a community with resilient people, a rich heritage, and a tenacious spirit for building a future for their children.”

— David Weil, Executive Director, ReNew Communities

Thank you to our

PARTNERS.

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