Through three decades in business, J. Ronald Terwilliger has had opportunities to donate to myriad causes, and he didn’t narrow his giving much at the beginning. But his work in the housing industry—he’s chairman and CEO of multifamily builder Trammel Crow Residential—has taught him much about the plight of those who cannot find adequate and affordable housing, an issue that’s become one of his passions.
To that end, he has worked closely with Habitat for Humanity International for the last decade and now serves as the vice chair of its board. He’s also worked with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) for 25 years, serving in a variety of roles, including chairman. Over the years, he has donated about $150,000 to the ULI and has pledged $1 million to endow its J. Ronald Terwilliger Chair for Affordable Housing. He’s also working on local affordability issues at home in Atlanta, where Mayor Shirley Franklin has tapped him to head a citywide affordable housing initiative.
He hasn’t forgotten his roots, either. He continues to support the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., his alma mater. In addition to committing $5 million to the school, he is a member of the Naval Academy Foundation and the school’s Campaign Executive Committee to improve the school’s capital and academic programs.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Atlanta, GA.
