History of Faith Works Coalition
Last update: April 1, 2021
FORMATION & MISSION
In 1984, a group of Virginia Beach Churches and Synagogues came together for the purpose of becoming a building partner with South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity (SHRHFH), identifying itself as the Covenant of Virginia Beach. Unlike many building partners that came together for a single Habitat build, the Covenant was intended to be a permanent organization working with Habitat to provide affordable homes for deserving families within the City of Virginia Beach as part of each member church outreach ministry.
In late 2007, SHRHFH informed the Covenant of Virginia Beach that they no longer desired to work through the Covenant as a building partner for homes in Virginia Beach, but rather wanted to work directly with community churches and solicit funds for use throughout the entire South Hampton Roads region. In response to this development, the Covenant decided to remain together to continue the charitable relationship that had grown into an effective, efficient construction oriented organization bound together in solid Judeo-Christian traditions and fellowship. As they surveyed and considered community needs, the Covenant became well aware of a critical need for a variety of housing repair and renovation activities in Virginia Beach focused on assisting low income senior citizens, disabled individuals, veterans and working families in need of home repair and renovation.
In January of 2008, the Covenant members made a commitment to one another to form a new not-for-profit organization that would focus exclusively on repairing existing homes of those in need primarily in Virginia Beach. They included Matthew Weinstein, Patrick Roll, Robert Brenton, Rick Galliford, George Chafee, Howard Gill and Bruce Warren. The name chosen for the new organization was Faith Works Coalition, Inc. (FWC), which formally established as its mission:
- Improve housing for low income elderly and working families;
- Improve quality of life in low income neighborhoods;
- Build community spirit in Virginia Beach, and enhance the joy of fellowship inherent in faith based, volunteer community projects; and,
- Provide emergency relief through repair and reconstruction of homes in communities suffering from natural disasters.
FWC completed it first project in 2008. FWC is currently averaging 120-150 projects each year, which translates to touching and helping over 100 families or two families each week. Some projects are completed quickly and at low cost, while others require many days or weeks at costs exceeding $3-4000 each. During 2020, FWC completed 166 projects.
FWC continues to solicit support through the Combined Federal Campaign, our FWC website, Facebook, Amazon Smile, various grants, and other opportunities.
MILESTONES
The first FWC Board of Directors was established with representatives from 15 original Covenant of Virginia Beach Churches. The following is a list of milestones achieved by the Board to date:
- January 2008 - FWC Mission Statement is drafted and approved.
- January 28, 2008 - Certificate of Incorporation is issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- February 8, 2008 – An introductory letter is sent to area church pastors announcing the formal foundation of FWC and enlisting their support.
- May 31, 2010 – FWC expanded into the City of Chesapeake by establishing the Chesapeake Regional Affiliate.
- April 24, 2013 – Received the Volunteer Hampton Roads Community Achievement Award.
- September 20, 2013 – Received the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference Award in the Group Effort of the Year Category.
- February 14, 2014 – Received the City of Va. Beach 20th Annual Virginia Beach Human Rights Award.
- September 7, 2019– Chesapeake City Council honored FWC with a citation which reads in part “…serving the community with integrity and commitment…” on the occasion of completing the 1,000 project.
- October 1, 2019 – Beach City Council honored FWC by proclaiming this date as FWC Day on the occasion of the completion of the 1000th home repair project and in recognition of all FWC has done on behalf of Virginia Beach and its citizens.
SUMMARY
FWC continues to grow in volunteer membership and in numbers of completed home repair projects. As of December 31,2020, 1,268 projects have been completed since 2008, all of which improved family quality of life, keeping our neighbors safe, warm, and dry. There are 19 members on its board of directors having started with 7 in 2008. There are no paid staff only volunteers who are committed to the mission objectives stated in the beginning of this historical treatise. There are approximately 105 project volunteers and 20 contractors who are engaged from time to time in projects requiring licensed home repair work.