Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Finds Their New Leader; dedicated to “bringing hope to the hopeless”
William F. Splitgerber, Jr., is definitely a colorful guy. World traveler, graduate of Towson University, Maryland graduating with a B.S. in Philosophy and University of Maryland School of Law where he was honored to be a member of the Maryland Law Review; attorney, business owner and entrepreneur for 26 years, Splitgerber is just what the doctor ordered to breath new life into this wonderful organization.
In August, 2015, Splitgerber and his wife sold all of their belongings and moved to Europe to serve the mass influx of refugees flooding in from war-torn areas of the middle-east; primarily from Syria, but also from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan – all of whom were fleeing ISIS/ISIL and the wars in their countries where more than 600,000 people have died as a result of the Syrian Civil War over the past seven years.
They founded an NGO named Gateways2Life (www.gateways2life.org) in October 2016 with the vision “that every refugee in Europe will thrive in an abundant life;” and, with the mission that “Gateways2Life will develop a network of like-minded, like-hearted communities across Europe where the needs of refugees will be met in body, mind and spirit, that they may thrive and make an abundant life.” Gateways2Life went on to play a role in founding multiple Community Center and outreach projects across Europe; including, in Greece, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Gateways2Life established two (2) Community Centers on the infamous island of Lesvos, Greece which is located just 5 miles off the coast of Turkey, and where hundreds of thousands of refugees have flooded into Europe over the past few years. These Centers were designed to serve the most vulnerable among the immense refugee population; namely, the women and children. In these Centers we provide hot showers, laundry facilities, a distribution center where women could receive items of personal need (e.g., diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, lotions, underwear, etc.). The Centers also included a baby washing area, a children’s corner and a large hospitality room where women and children could come out of the camps to a safe place where they could rediscover hope and dignity. To date, these Centers have served more than 50,000 refugee visitors.
“ I am passionate about finding ways to give hope to the hopeless, a sense of dignity and self-worth to the lost, and opportunities to show love to those in need and the less fortunate – all as an example of the love we receive, acting as the hands and feet of Jesus to those we encounter.
Personally, and professionally, I am also passionate about networking and relationship building; and, I love to take on challenges to make the impossible become reality.”
Splitgerber comes to Bay Area Habitat for Humanity at an ideal time. As Habitat struggles to meet the needs of so many families and individuals who were wiped out by Harvey, while continuing to serve the most vulnerable in our communities, to find a person with a deep understanding of displaced populations who brings with him both a faith based strength of purpose, and a balanced strategic approach to problem solving is manna from Heaven. Splitgerber’s experience bringing an organization like Gateways to life, is invaluable and will give Bay Area Habitat fresh new insights and concepts to implement and grow with.
The Splitgerber family, William, Geeta his wife and their five sons are fresh arrivals to the Bay area, having only arrived mid-April. He has literally hit the ground running, taking on the position of Executive Director for Bay Area Habitat. There is an old Chinese saying that serves as a curse, I am told. “May you live in interesting times” well describes the challenge he is taking on. However, there are clues one gets from looking at his past that indicates “interesting times” is exactly what Splitgerber thrives on. Curious about the name Geeta, I looked up its meaning and found that it means “song”. The name William means “resolute protector”; remarkable apropos. So, Welcome William, Geeta, and family to our ever so interesting neck of the woods. You could not be more needed, and we could not be more thrilled.
To learn more about Bay Area Habitat for Humanity and the work they do for our communities; or to get involved, visit them at:
http://www.bahfh.org/
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