The Harold Tessendorf Housing Impact Award was created in 2026 in honor of Harold
Tessendorf who led two Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Macon and Milledgeville Georgia for
more than 20 years. Harold also has significant humanitarian leadership experience from South
Africa’s democratic transition from the apartheid in the 1990s and now leads social enterprise
projects in South Africa, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Haiti and the United States.

This Impact Award is bestowed to recognize the dedication and achievement of those who have
been instrumental in the work to advance access to safe, affordable, quality housing for all
families in Macon-Bibb County, Jones County or Milledgeville-Baldwin County through work
with organizations such as local Habitat for Humanity affiliates or other housing initiatives.

Annually, Macon Milledgeville Regional Habitat for Humanity will identify the honoree of the Harold Tessendorf
Impact Award. The honoree(s) will be recognized during World Habitat Week (the first week in
October) at a ceremony led by Macon Milledgeville Regional Habitat for Humanity in Macon or Milledgeville, and
the honoree(s) will be recognized with a plaque and the opportunity to recommend a grant to a
local nonprofit working to support access to housing in the focus communities.