Chief Cares, the nonprofit founded by Eric and Katherine Church, is significantly expanding its long-term commitment to Western North Carolina by formalizing and growing its housing initiative. This work will now operate under a newly established 501(c)(3) organization named Blue Haven Communities, Inc. The initiative, which provides mortgage-free and rent-free housing, is already underway in Avery County and has now broken ground in Yancey County. This expansion comes as the region approaches the two-year anniversary of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, building on initial recovery efforts.
Blue Haven Communities is designed to provide stability and a clear path toward long-term homeownership for local individuals described as "community pillars" who prioritize service in their lives and work. The goal is to help these residents remain rooted in their communities, thereby preserving the people and institutions central to the strength of small towns. In Avery County, the Blue Haven initiative includes 37 homes, with 18 already completed and 14 currently occupied. The organization anticipates that all 37 homes will be completed and occupied by 97 residents by January. The new Yancey County community will replicate this model, with the potential for broader replication in the future.
To guide this significant growth phase, Blue Haven Communities has named North Carolina native Winston McGregor as its new Chief Executive Officer. McGregor will be responsible for overseeing the continued development of Blue Haven Communities and will also advise Chief Cares. Eric and Katherine Church shared their perspective on the initiative's evolution, noting that after witnessing the potential in Avery County, "investing in long term stability could be one of the most meaningful ways we could serve." They added that McGregor possesses "the heart and the head to help us build on this foundation."
McGregor brings more than two decades of leadership experience to her new role, spanning areas such as attainable housing, public education, nonprofit operations, fundraising, and cross-sector systems change. Before joining Chief Cares, she served as President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, where she led efforts to develop and scale a diversified housing model across multiple communities. Most recently, McGregor was the Chief Operating Officer of The Innovation Project, a statewide nonprofit supporting public-school districts across North Carolina. Her career also includes leadership in disaster-response efforts, coordinating community-wide responses after a tornado and leading rapid-response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. McGregor expressed honor in joining the team, noting that the model of centering community pillars with housing is a powerful new approach capable of making a real difference in Western North Carolina and beyond.
Chief Cares continues to function as the umbrella brand for Eric and Katherine Church's various philanthropic endeavors. Blue Haven…A Chief Cares Mission is described as their most ambitious philanthropic project to date. The organization initially focused on immediate response following Hurricane Helene and has since evolved its structure to prioritize long-term investment in community stability. Eric Church's personal philanthropy also contributed to Hurricane Helene relief; he signed over all publishing royalties from his 2024 song "Darkest Hour" to provide immediate aid and ongoing funds for a resilient future in his home state. Church, a recognized artist with multiple awards and nominations, has a history of building a passionate fan base through his music and is also involved in other ventures.
