A Legacy of Compassion

Long before Her First Home became an organization, Dr. Sam was quietly living its mission. For decades, he has helped others not only buy homes but keep them, restore them, and reimagine them — often lending his own hands, resources, and heart along the way.

He’s offered personal loans for down payments, helped families refinance to avoid losing their homes, shared leftover materials from his own remodels, and connected countless people with trusted tradesmen, contractors, and discounts. Every gesture came from one deeply held conviction: everyone deserves a safe and beautiful place to call home.

As a longtime real estate investor and landlord, Dr. Sam has lived by that belief — investing his own time, money, and energy to transform needed, beautifully renovated affordable rentals into spaces filled with warmth and dignity. He often leads projects personally, hammer in hand, ensuring every home reflects care and pride. “People used to ask why I’d invest so much in an affordable apartment,” he recalls. “I’d say, because everyone deserves to open their door and feel proud of where they live. If someone’s working hard — whether they flip burgers or manage a store — they deserve a home that feels good.”

Those acts of compassion, repeated over a lifetime, became the seed from which Her First Home grew — a mission grounded in respect, possibility, and the simple, powerful truth that a home changes everything.

“Homeownership builds equity and stability, yes — but more than that, it builds pride and belonging. Everyone deserves that.” — Dr. Sam