Leigh Thomas Brown

In 2025, as North Carolina continued to feel the destructive aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Leigh Brown stepped up to show what housing advocacy looks like in moments of crisis. Brown’s nonprofit, Patriot Relief—founded in late 2024—was selected as the partner organization for the state of North Carolina and HUD’s single-family repair and rebuild program. In this role, she has helped connect displaced homeowners with critical resources to restore their homes and preserve the fabric of their communities.

“I’m driven by solving complex challenges, designing elegant and innovative solutions, and creating programs that inspire engagement and deliver measurable impact,” she says. “I find deep satisfaction in seeing ideas take root—when a strategic shift not only works but elevates the people and culture around it.”

With more than 25 years in real estate and over 4,000 homes sold, Brown brings deep industry knowledge to disaster recovery efforts, bridging the gap between government programs, local needs and long-term housing stability. Her work focuses not only on rebuilding structures, but on ensuring families are not forced to leave the communities they love after experiencing loss through no fault of their own.