Dwight Schar
This is the blog of businessman and philanthropist Dwight Schar, the founder of NVR, now one of the largest homebuilders in the US. This blog will explore various aspects of Mr. Schar’s professional life and philanthropic activities, including real estate, higher education, and his financial donations to Inova’s heart and vascular programs and its multidisciplinary cancer and research center.
Philanthropy
In 2023, alongside his wife Martha, Dwight Schar donated $75 million to support Inova’s heart and vascular programs. The impact of this gift will be the acceleration of innovative cardiovascular care in Northern Virgina. The funds will be put towards growing specialty services with a focus on research, outreach, early diagnosis, and prevention. They will also be used to recruit and retain the best care team talent and promote health equity throughout the region.
Inova offers a range of comprehensive programs and services regarding cardiovascular care to adults and children. These include care models for cardiac and respiratory failure, fetal cardiac care, care for new mothers and newborns in need of swift cardiac intervention, emergency situations such as heart attacks, inheritable genetic cardiovascular disease, and irregular heart rhythms.
Career History
The company founded by Dwight Schar, NVR, operates in two sectors: homebuilding and mortgage banking. The homebuilding side of the operation constructs and sells homes under the NVHomes, Ryan Homes, Rymark Homes, Fox Ridge Homes, and Heartland Homes brands. Dwight Schar retired from the company in 2022, stepping down as executive chairman of the board at the age of 80 (a post he had held since 1993). The previous year, 2021, saw NVR achieve $8.95 billion in revenue and $6.07 billion in closed mortgage loan production.
Through his leadership and strategic guidance, Mr. Schar navigated NVR through many economic cycles, including the global financial crisis, ultimately resulting in the long-term and ongoing success of the company.
George Mason University (GMU)
Dwight Schar has been a long-time supporter of George Mason University, donating a significant amount over the years to this institution. GMU is the largest public research university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. The university’s six-year graduation rate of 71% is significantly higher than the national average, with no disparity present based on economic or ethnic status. GMU continues to grow, with the headcount and credit hour enrollment increasing by 1.6% in spring 2022. Out-of-state enrollment also went up by 12.6%, with international enrollment shooting up by 25%. The university has been ranked by the Wall Street Journal as the Best in Virginia for Social Mobility.
