Housing Heroes Profile: In Memoriam of Nancy Rose Findlay

The Housing Heroes profile series covers LEAP’s advocates and major donors who advance the mission of affordable housing in Idaho. The gift in memoriam of Nancy Findlay is one of eight major donors to step forward and offer matching funds to all donations in the month of December during Avenues for Hope. To give, visit our Avenues for Hope donation page.

“She never wanted anyone to feel bad,” her husband Chris said. “She could light up a room. She was the kindest, softest person you’ll ever meet in your life.”

She hated wrong in the world.

To make the wrong things a little more right, Nancy and Chris made giving and tithing a huge part of their lives. Original donors in 2018, they put up the first $1500 to secure housing for folks arriving through refugee resettlement. They helped launch LEAP’s Welcome Housing program.

If we can be kind and help people out and give them their first step into America, which was LEAP’s first mission, it can change people’s lives,” Chris explained.

“I think giving is a huge part of the American way of life.”

Housing was and is a tool for the Findlay household to correct wrongs.

Perhaps it's Nancy’s history with housing instability or Chris’ experiences as a realtor that make housing a mainstay in their giving portfolio. It may also be their friendship with LEAP’s founder. Whatever the reasons, Nancy and Chris are dear to LEAP, and we’re inspired by them, their story and their love for goodness. Goodness is how we remember Nancy.

Nancy recently died from cancer. Chris says if she could tell people one thing, it would be this:

“She’d want people to take LEAP’s message to heart and give freely. We all have so much, and what LEAP is trying to do is help people who don’t have so much. We have so much wealth. Give it away. You can’t take it with you.”