Michael T. Pugh, president and CEO of LISC, was selected by Worth Magazine as one of its 2024 Worthy 100, an honor reserved for the top 100 leaders and innovators making the greatest impact on the world.
Pugh appears on the annual list alongside luminaries in art, entertainment, business, government, nonprofits and philanthropy, including Lionel Messi, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Gayle Benson, Tobi Lutke and Chance the Rapper.
For more than 30 years, Pugh has been a leading advocate for creating economic paths to prosperity and generational wealth building. He has been a longtime leader in the financial services industry, most recently serving as president and CEO of Harlem-based Carver Federal Savings Bank, the nation’s largest publicly traded African American-operated bank, for more than a decade.
Since joining LISC in 2023, Pugh “has become a force to be reckoned with regarding affordable housing solutions,” noted Worth Magazine. Last year alone, LISC helped create 18,275 affordable homes and nearly 1.2 million square feet of community-serving space.
Under Pugh’s leadership, LISC’s family of programs and affiliates collectively deployed $2.4 billion to bridge gaps in affordable housing, small business growth, health, education, safety and jobs.
“If you want to see real leadership in action, take a walk down the streets of the communities where LISC works,” Pugh said. “You will see neighborhood leaders driving economic opportunity and growth, even in places damaged by years of disinvestment. At LISC, we are proud to deliver the expertise and capital they need to be transformative, and we’re grateful to Worth Magazine for recognizing the power of that commitment.”
Past Worthy 100 honorees include Michael Bloomberg, John Kerry, Warren Buffet, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Jerome Powell, Scott Kirby, Steve Ballmer and Jose Andres.
To learn more about the Worthy 100 and see the complete list, visit https://worth.com/worthy-100-2024.
About LISC
LISC is one of the nation’s largest community development organizations, dedicated to forging vibrant, resilient communities where people and places can thrive. LISC’s mission is to close systemic gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity, advancing racial equity across America. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $32 billion to create more than 506,000 affordable homes, develop 82.5 million square feet of commercial and community space, and help tens of thousands of people secure employment and financial stability.