The woman who has guided Cornerstones for close to half its lifetime is stepping away.
Kerrie Wilson announced last Wednesday (July 2) that she will retire early next year after serving as the Reston-based nonprofit’s CEO for nearly 25 years.
“This is a decision I’ve made with peace of mind, knowing that Cornerstones is well-positioned for its next chapter — and that the work we’ve built across the region will continue,” Wilson said in a message to the nonprofit’s supporters.
Wilson took the helm of Cornerstones in 2001 after previously working for the American Cancer Society, where she focused on cancer prevention in “medically underserved” populations and ultimately became the organization’s national vice president for government relations, according to her Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce profile.
Founded in 1970 as Reston Interfaith, Cornerstones started as an advocacy group dedicated to addressing Reston’s affordable housing needs, but its mission has since expanded to include other social services as well, including food and financial assistance and childcare and youth services.
Renamed in 2013 in an effort to be “more inclusive of all our supporters and donors,” the nonprofit now serves approximately 26,000 people annually, Wilson said in her message.
In addition to operating the Embry Rucker Community Shelter, Cornerstones owns more than 100 affordable housing units in western Fairfax County and offers day care at the Laurel Learning Center at Lake Anne Plaza, where it also hosts a food pantry.
The organization recently expanded its reach outside Fairfax County with the November 2023 opening of its Free from Hunger Center in Sterling — a 10,000-square-foot warehouse that stores excess food for distribution to local food pantries and feeding programs.
When Cornerstones celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, Wilson and the nonprofit’s other leaders told Reston Now that their goals included doubling its affordable housing stock and continuing to offer support services to families that had become especially vital during the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Wilson said Cornerstones also intended to place an increased emphasis on advocating for policy changes “that will let us truly end hunger and ensure that all families … have that first chance at home ownership.”
In a message responding to Wilson’s retirement announcement, Cornerstones Board of Directors Chair Andy Lacher lauded her “visionary leadership” for helping the nonprofit evolve “from its modest beginnings” into a “leading regional anchor organization.”
“Over the past few decades, Kerrie’s leadership hasn’t just addressed systemic challenges — it has sparked movements and elevated our community’s consciousness,” Lacher said. “Through her example, Kerrie has inspired us all to think big, dig deep, and step up in service of each other.”
The board of directors has already formed a committee and hired the nonprofit-focused firm Good Insight to conduct a search for Wilson’s successor. Though there’s no clear timeline yet for the search process, Wilson said she will remain in her role in the coming months to “help ensure a smooth transition.”
Once they’re hired, the next CEO for Cornerstones will have their hands full with some notable projects, including the nonprofit’s newest housing development, now under construction near the Fairfax County Government Center. The task of replacing Embry Rucker with a new emergency shelter will also loom, as planning for the county and Inova’s Reston Town Center North redevelopment continues.
