The Habitat for Humanity New York City Board of Directors is a passionate and generous group of housing advocates who help steer the organization’s mission and programs. Sadly, after 10 years of service to Habitat NYC, one of our most dedicated board members is leaving the board and we’d like to take a moment to pause and consider his impact.
John Isaacs has seen Habitat NYC’s evolution from a small-scale builder to a prolific affordable housing developer and preservationist. John joined the Habitat NYC Board of Directors in 2010, at a transitional period for the organization. As Executive Vice President at CBRE, John’s vast experience in commercial real estate has been invaluable to the organization in our searches for affordable office space and the perfect location for our first ReStore in 2015.
John is endlessly generous in promoting Habitat NYC to the fullness of his network of contacts and our organization is stronger as a result. In fact, Doug Morse, current Chair of our Board of Directors is a lifelong friend of John’s! Doug recently told us, “In 2013, when I felt called to assist in making affordable and safe housing available to more New Yorkers, I reached out to John, whom I’ve known for over 50 years. The rest is history and I am tremendously grateful!”
John Isaacs (left) with Doug and Claudia Morse. Doug is the current Chair of the Habitat NYC Board of Directors and has been John’s friend of more than 50 years.
John’s interest in affordable housing is not just limited to New York City. He is an avid supporter of Habitat for Humanity International’s work, and a regular participant in the Global Village program. He has traveled the world, participating in 10 Global Village trips in 10 years and building healthy homes and stable futures for families in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Columbia, South Africa, Cambodia, Malawi, Brazil, and Jordan.
John’s calm, precise demeanor, combined with his more than 30 years professional experience has helped Habitat to make a mark on the city that will last for the generations. Habitat NYC CEO Karen Haycox adds, “During these difficult and trying times, it is so important to have real estate professionals like John, active and engaged in assisting us to address the challenges facing our fellow New Yorkers. We will miss his wisdom, his counsel, his dedication and great sense of humor. We wish him well in his future endeavors; we thank him and, I am in deed heartened to know, that as a tried and true Habitat supporter, he will be cheering us on from the sidelines and a phone call way for his legendary counsel.”
