News Release

November 15 , 2012

Contacts: Lindsay Moore, lmoore@nw.org, 202-220-6317, twitter: @neighborworkspr

NeighborWorks America Names Sarah Bloom Raskin Board Chair

Washington, DC – NeighborWorks America, a top community development organization, today announced the appointment of Sarah Bloom Raskin as its board chair. Raskin, who succeeds former Chair Christiane Gigi Hyland, has served as the Federal Reserve Board of Governor’s representative to the NeighborWorks America board since January 2011.

“Adequate housing is a significant component of family and individual well-being and household wealth,” said Raskin. “In my new role, I hope to help further the work being done at the grassroots level through the NeighborWorks network to fulfill that vision.”

As board chair, Raskin will provide strategic leadership and oversight in support of NeighborWorks America’s mission to create opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives, and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 235 nonprofit organizations, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

“Governor Raskin’s background includes significant experience in housing and, in particular, with the foreclosure process, which will be valuable to the communities we serve,” said NeighborWorks America CEO Eileen Fitzgerald. “Director Hyland exemplified skillful leadership in her role, and we thank her for her extremely valuable contributions to our organization.”

Determined by statute, NeighborWorks America’s board consists of the heads of the financial regulatory agencies and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As such, the members of the board are presidential appointees subject to Senate confirmation or their statutorily designated representatives.

Debbie Matz, National Credit Union Administration board chairman, was elected vice chair of the board of NeighborWorks America.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

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