“There are plenty of ways nonprofits can do good work, but your help to an organization can feel cloudy or abstract. You might ask, ‘Who was really helped by my donation?’ Home Repairs Ministries can [confidently] say, ‘You helped these 10 homeowners stay in their home,” said Dick LoPresti, longtime community philanthropist, business executive, and new Home Repairs Ministries Board Treasurer.
Originally from Michigan, Dick and his wife Deb moved to Georgia 42 years ago for a job and made this state their home.
“Some would say I’m semi-retired since 2008, but I keep pretty busy,” Dick said.
He joined Home Repairs Ministries’ board in 2025, but he’s no stranger to leading nonprofit organizations.
“I serve in a similar financial [advisor] kind of role with five other organizations — four nonprofits, including our church, and the city of Berkeley Lake where we live.”
Philanthropy is something Dick and Deb have prioritized in their marriage.
“My wife and I believe that abundance or scarcity has absolutely nothing to do with how much money you have. It’s entirely a mindset,” he shared. “Some people can have lots of money and have a scarcity mindset, and some people can have very little and have an abundance mindset. My life experience tells me that people with an abundance mindset are usually happier people, and one of the ways you promote and maintain an abundance mindset is by giving some of your money away.
“When you feel you’ve got enough to give away, it tells your mind, ‘I’m okay.’”
One avenue Dick and Deb have used to steward their abundance is their donor advised fund.
“We’ve had a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation [for Northeast Georgia] since 2007,” he explained. “That’s a great opportunity for those who are philanthropic to set aside money and get a tax deduction. Then you’ll be able to grant those funds out over time.”
He and Deb prioritize supporting organizations that emphasize self-sufficiency.
“There are plenty of charities that give the proverbial handout, not a hand up,” Dick explained. “At the end of the day, they will feed a person for a day but not teach them to fish.”
The nonprofits he supports and serves with instead fight homelessness or food insecurity through equipping families with the tools and support they need to find stability.
Although Dick is involved in the nonprofit sector in his community, he hadn’t heard of Home Repairs Ministries until a couple of years ago.
Dick had connected with Home Repairs’ Executive Director Heather Loveridge through their mutual connection to the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. After Heather left the marketing agency she founded and was looking for her next career, she discussed the open executive director position at Home Repairs Ministries with Dick.
“There is no doubt in my mind that God called her to this role,” he said. “I’ve told her for years that being a good leader in a for-profit or nonprofit organization largely comes down to being a good storyteller.
“Being able to articulate the message about the why and the purpose of what you’re doing motivates staff, donors and the community.”
While Home Repairs’ mission is to repair hearts and homes, he believes the organization also uniquely supports a goal dear to his heart: self-sufficiency.
“One of the things Home Repairs does is [build] ramps and decks, things that [solve] access issues,” Dick shared. “Home Repairs is helping people sustain a lifestyle in their home. Otherwise, they may get to the point where they can’t because of physical limitations.”
For aging homeowners or those struggling with a disability, these modifications help them age-in-place and enjoy a better quality of life in their own home. Without these repairs, some elderly or disabled homeowners might be forced to find an alternative place to call home, one that brings additional financial strain on themselves or their families.
In the past, Home Repairs had focused on smaller critical repairs, like decks, ramps or grab bars. But in a recent board meeting, Heather shared how Home Repairs Ministries is branching out into larger critical repairs as a result of the needs they are seeing.
“We’re really in the homelessness [fight] too,” Dick said. “Without our help, so many of the [homeowners we serve] might become homeless, but instead, we’re able to address their needs.”
Dick’s been pleased to see Heather thriving in her leadership role and expanding the organization’s outreach.
“When Heather started, [Home Repairs Ministries focused on] leaking sinks and toilets, decks and ramps. Since she and Kyle [Van Nus, Home Repairs’ project manager] started, they’ve done more large-scale repairs like HVAC, plumbing and roofs.”
Home Repairs is building crucial partnerships with local roofers, plumbers, HVAC companies and more to meet even greater critical home repair needs for vulnerable homeowners.
Dick is excited to see how this step to expand Home Repairs’ services helps more vulnerable families stay in their homes for years to come.
“Knowing at the end of the day or the end of the weekend or the month you’ve helped people improve their lives, that’s meaningful,” he said. “We’re doing really good work helping real people.”