The 2026 Tom Nees Award for Exceptional Service honors Melissa McGuire for her longstanding leadership, service, and commitment to Community of Hope’s mission.
What began as a desire to give back grew into a years-long partnership with Community of Hope. Over time, Melissa served in many roles—from Night of Hope Chair to committee leader, board member, board vice-chair and board chair. Each experience gave her a different perspective on the organization and a deeper appreciation for the staff, volunteers, donors, and fellow board members who make its work possible.
One of the things Melissa valued most during her board service was the opportunity to work alongside Community of Hope’s leadership to think strategically about the future. She played an important role in developing the organization’s five-year strategic plan and was continually inspired by the commitment and expertise of the people around the table. She also takes pride in helping grow the Resource Development Committee and learning firsthand what it takes to build the philanthropic support that sustains Community of Hope’s work.
Fundraising became an especially meaningful part of her involvement. Melissa chaired Night of Hope twice, experiences that deepened her appreciation for the planning, creativity, and relationship-building behind the organization’s signature event. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked alongside staff and volunteers to reimagine fundraising gatherings, finding new ways to engage supporters and raise critical funds at a time when gathering in person was no longer possible. She joined countless venue tours, searching for amazing rooftops for Night of Hope, and brought creativity to weaving the word and spirit of “hope” into many initiatives.
During her time on the board, the organization finished construction and opened the expanded and relocated Family Health and Birth Center. She dove into understanding how our approach improves maternal health outcomes and how interwoven the basic needs of housing, health care, and family stability are.
She came to her involvement after a 25-year career at Freddie Mac where she held leadership positions focused on expanding access to affordable homeownership and rental housing opportunities. Community of Hope’s mission was a natural extension of that work while also exposing her to the human stories behind the housing challenges she had spent her career addressing.
Those human stories are among her most meaningful experiences. During a visit to one of our site-based housing programs shortly before Christmas, she met a father preparing to move into permanent housing with his two children. He welcomed visitors into his apartment and shared the story of the challenges his family had faced, the progress they had made, and the future he was building for his children. “What struck me most was his hopefulness. He was excited about the new experiences that awaited him and his children, and he was deeply grateful to Community of Hope for supporting him along the way,” Melissa recalled. For her, it was a powerful reminder of what hope really means and why Community of Hope’s work matters.
Melissa brought her family along too! She volunteered alongside her (then) teenage children at Girard Street Apartments and the Triumph. They baked cookies and sorted and wrapped toys for a holiday event and made Valentine’s Day cards. She cherished watching her children build connections through those experiences and seeing them learn that service is something you do, not simply something you talk about. And her husband who also worked to build corporate support.
For Melissa, hope is never passive. It is the belief that things can be better, combined with a willingness to help make them better. Through her leadership, generosity, and years of service, she strengthened Community of Hope and advanced its mission across Washington, DC. Community of Hope is proud to honor Melissa McGuire with the 2026 Tom Nees Award for Exceptional Service.
