Stanley Martin Homes is a developer people know and trust in the Washington, D.C. area. However, its vice president of construction, Michael Cleary, is also known in Virginia for his unerring commitment to affordable housing.  The winner of the HAND Housing Achievement Virginia Peters Nonprofit Friend of the Year Award, Cleary has gone over and beyond to do his part in helping create affordable homes for those in need.

In 2013, HAND member HomeAid Northern Virginia honored Cleary with its President’s Award, recognizing his continued dedication in volunteering to help the organization build homes for the homeless. His volunteer work with HomeAid included leading a team of architects, trade partners and others to complete renovation and rehabilitation projects. Through collaboration efforts with other local Virginia organizations and agencies, Cleary has lead teams of trade partners, architects and others to complete major renovation projects for a homeless disabled veteran and his family, a single mother with four daughters, a transitional housing facility and other notable housing projects.

The HAND Nonprofit Friend of the Year Award is named after the late Virginia S. Peters, a school teacher who was called to serve to help build affordable housing for Virginians. Peters ultimately founded the Wesley Housing Community Development Corporation and later provided needed guidance to HAND in its early days.

HAND is proud to recognize Michael Cleary with this esteemed award, and hope you come out to the HAND Annual Meeting so you can congratulate him, too!

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