Kevin Cronk was a highschool soccer coach at Los Lunas High School. A chance home visit with a student revealed the substandard housing in our County. A family of 7 children and two hard-working parents were living in a small 12 foot travel trailer onto which they had built a sleeping room made from old wooden shipping pallettes and covered in tar paper. Kevin researched what programs might be available to assist this family but also maintain their dignity, autonomy and obvious accomplishment and family unity.

Kevin Cronk rallyed friends, co-workers, neighbors and church members across our County in founding a Habitat for Humanity International affiliate non-profit, making this family the first recipients of a new home. Kevin worked strictly as a volunteer the first seven years building the affiliate into a designated 'global village site', a favorite build destination on the VISTA Americorps Collegiate Challenge roster. He participates in educating and growing people at all levels of involvement -- from working with volunteers and homeowners, to training the amateur Board of Directors and eventually employing staff. Working with local schools, he also established trades training. More information is available at www.habitatvalencia.org.

Kevin Cronk suffers from a chronic illness, yet his spirit keeps him going, even through swinging a hammer in any weather. His constant research and attendance at training opportunities is done for excellence in management for the affiliate. I must say this one guy's impact on our County has been amazing. He acts as an ombudsman who can get other entities to work together, starting us from zero and carrying us into the building of 41 homes, a subdivision of 123 lots now and the further, determined goal of eliminating poverty housing in this County by 2025. Kevin is a champion, drawing from the courage of his mother who died of a terrible nerve disease but, long ago, gave him the gift of faith.

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