First published in the April 7 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity recently announced Dan Carney as its new board president.
Carney succeeds Christine Bogharian, who served in that role since 2020.
“Dan’s experience and passion for our mission is a great asset to our organization,” said Bryan Wong, SGV Habitat executive director. “Board service is one of the toughest roles and Christine, our previous board president, was an exemplar leader. We can’t thank her enough for the tireless efforts she put in to ensure we accomplished all that was possible during an unforeseen pandemic climate.
“Under Dan’s leadership we will continue to keep working toward fulfilling our goal of serving 100 families by 2023 through the Expanding the American Dream campaign,” he added.
Carney, a program director with AECOM, is a strategic leader with a strong background in overseeing large capital programs with complex facilities both domestically and internationally. Currently, Carney is working on the $1.7 billion Harbor-UCLA Master Plan Implementation and Hospital Replacement Program. He has been a board member with SGV Habitat since November of 2020, but his Habitat experience goes back to 1993 when he helped build homes in the bay area.
“Everyone deserves a decent place to live, and I feel blessed to be part of an organization that works alongside the families in our communities who need a hand-up partner,” Carney said.
Wong said the need for affordable housing in the local area is overwhelming.
“Our board is committed to dramatically increasing the number of affordable homeownership opportunities in the San Gabriel Valley,” Wong said. “Using Habitat’s ‘hand up, not a handout’ program model we are breaking down the barriers that previously kept many local residents from qualifying for a home purchase.”
SV Habitat has 11 members on its board of directors. In addition to Carney, the Monrovia-based nonprofit is led by Christine Bogharian, board vice president of Bank of America; Scott Carpenter, board vice president of EFILM; John Clairday, board vice president (attorney); Tyler Roberts of C.W.Driver; Malisa Day of MUFG Union Bank; Nimrod Johnson of Kaiser Permanente; Michael Brady of ADMI; Lydia Tavera of Browne George Ross LLP; Teresa Real Sebastian (attorney) and Eric Chen of Chateau Operating Corp.
In the last two months SGV Habitat has completed 11 critical home repair projects and the organization expects to begin construction on at least seven new homes (which will be offered to low-income buyers) in the next six months.
The price of homes in the San Gabriel Valley continues to escalate which causes most lower-income families and first-time homebuyers to be priced out of the market. Currently, market rate California homes cost nearly seven times the average household income.
In the United States, homeowners have a 400% higher net wealth than renters with similar demographics and earnings. Yet, nearly half of all households in California are excluded from homeownership opportunities. By investing in affordable ownership production, lower-income Californians, can access permanently affordable, equity-building homes. SGV Habitat continues to offer these homeownership opportunities. For more information, visit sgvhabitat.org.
