Release date: 3/25/2024

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National leader in homeownership, real estate honored with NeighborWorks Founders Award

Washington, D.C. — Stuart J. Mitchell, who spent more than 50 years leading PathStone Corporation, is the recipient of the 2024 NeighborWorks Founders Award. NeighborWorks America presents the award each year to a current or former leader, either from the NeighborWorks network or NeighborWorks America, who has greatly impacted the housing and community development field and whose legacy endures — in innovation, in dedication and in the values that contributed to the formation of NeighborWorks America.

"I'm very moved and humbled by this recognition," said Mitchell, who now works as a consultant to community-based organizations. "I was surprised. In my wildest imagination, I would not have picked this as something for which I would be recognized and acknowledged." Mitchell was nominated for the award by his former colleagues at PathStone, with letters of support from people whom he inspired during his decades of service.   
The award will be presented to Mitchell in April at the NeighborWorks Executive Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 1969, PathStone became a member of the NeighborWorks network in 1996, and Mitchell has worked closely with NeighborWorks America since that time. In 2016, he became a member of NeighborWorks' national advisory committee on Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI), lending expertise from a long and storied history in equity work.

"I thought we did some really excellent work that has lasting impact," said Mitchell. He added that he believes it is important that organizations reflect the diversity of the people they serve.

Thousands of families have benefited from PathStone's services in its 55-year history. The organization, which began as a grassroots effort to help migrating farmworkers, grew under Mitchell's leadership to work in seven states and Puerto Rico. Today, PathStone operates 12 lines of business and is a national leader in homeownership services, real estate development, workforce development and providing loans to emerging entrepreneurs.

Mitchell said it has been a privilege and an honor to be associated with an extraordinary team of staff and board members. PathStone has channeled more than $2 billion in private, philanthropic and public resources to underserved individuals and communities

About NeighborWorks America
For 45 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., a national, nonpartisan nonprofit known as NeighborWorks America, has strived to make every community a place of opportunity. Our network of excellence includes nearly 250 nonprofits in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. NeighborWorks offers grant funding, peer exchange, technical assistance, evaluation tools, and access to training as the nation's leading trainer of housing and community development professionals. NeighborWorks network organizations provide residents in their communities with affordable homes, owned and rented; financial counseling and coaching; community building through resident engagement; and collaboration in the areas of health, employment and education.