​Baltimore Community Finance Coach Gifted With New, Eco-Friendly Roof Courtesy of GAF, Charm City Roofing, and Green The Church

After reaching out to GAF, one of the country's biggest building suppliers, Baltimore resident and community wealth-building coach Ruby Taylor has been gifted with a new roof for her historic home. The project included materials, remediation of the existing home structure, skilled installation by local contractor Charm City Roofing, and energy efficiency and sustainability consulting work from Green The Church, all at no charge.

Thanks to the donations and the community coming together, Ruby is now able to move into her historic home in the Park Heights neighborhood with her daughter — without having to worry about protecting what matters most.

Turning the Page for a New Story in a New Home

Ruby Taylor is interviewed by Green The Church Managing Director Kim Noble

"But God."

Ruby says these are words she is well acquainted with.

About one year ago, in the summer of 2025, she made the decision to leave nearly everything behind and start over after a prolonged divorce. This meant she had to begin anew: with her company, with her finances, and with her housing.

"Which is amazing," she says, "and also scary at the same time. 'But God.' Those are my two favorite words! 'But God,' so I keep on pushing through, and I won't tell myself no. You will have to tell me no."

Her journey back to stability met an early snag: the 1939-built rowhouse she had bought — the one that made the most sense to her because of its price and size and location within a community she deeply felt she was a part of — was badly in need of repairs.

While she could cover most of the other projects, little by little, the roof was a whole other problem. Ruby, a largely self-taught specialist in budgeting and personal finances, just couldn't make the numbers work. There was simply no way she would be able to afford a new roof. And without one, the entire house would eventually be in jeopardy.

Ruby’s beautiful and historic Baltimore row house needed extensive work to repair the roofing structure.

Instead of panicking, she started writing. A friend told her that GAF, a leading manufacturer of roofing materials, might be willing to donate the supplies needed to make the project work. After reaching out multiple times from multiple emails, Ruby found success. GAF not only agreed to supply the entirety of the project's supplies for free, but they also contacted local contracting company Charm City Roofing to donate the necessary labor.

​Ruby explains that her main drive was to find a place where her daughter could live with her safely. ​"My daughter is my driving force. I can be fine anywhere, but she pushes me to do more, even when I'm not comfortable.”

Knowing that Green The Church had experience with helping spec and consult with projects to make buildings more energy efficient and eco-friendly, Ruby reached out to us, as well.

As it turns out, it was a perfect match. After a few short weeks, the project was completed, allowing Ruby and her daughter to move in. The home will also host the local community for monthly generational wealth-building classes. With a new roof in place, Ruby could start building a home for others to find their own financial footing.

From Social Work to Social Support

Ruby holds up her Judith Heumann Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award, given to founders with disabilities who demonstrate outstanding achievement.

A graduate of Howard University's Master of Social Work program, Ruby Taylor spent the first part of her adult life supporting young learners. Working as a school social worker, she helped kids from all walks of life navigate difficult situations at home, at school, and in their personal lives.

Unfortunately, Ruby encountered an unexpected diversion from the path she had set herself on. A car accident left her with a traumatic brain injury, forcing her into retirement. But instead of giving up, she decided to give herself and others a leg up, starting anew as a financial educator.

Pictured right: In a vintage photo, Ruby holds her daughter, who is now able to live in the renovated home with her. 

Ruby's company, Financial Joy School, helps families to build generational wealth, regardless of their income, background, or where they grew up. "The end of today is just another data point of stability," she says, emphasizing that it's always the start of a new opportunity for "sustainability, joy, peace, freedom, and legacy-building."

"I believe that whatever you go through, it's not just for you. It's for you to grow from it and to share your knowledge and experience."

In that vein, Ruby will open up her house to the community once a month to talk about Black art and generational wealth-building for Black and Brown families and people with disabilities.

Ruby, who has a knack for making fast friends, embraces a member of the Charm City Roofing team during a well-deserved break from demo work.

When it comes to learning and teaching from one another, meeting in person in communities like Park Heights — where roughly one in four households live under the poverty line — can have transformational impact. "Words have power. Community has power. Coming together, talking, learning, growing from each other," it all has enduring meaning "because I believe in reciprocity."

Know That You Are Worthy

Ruby and Kim chat while walking through Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood, where historical disinvestment has left many residences badly in need of repairs.

Ruby urges others to take one thing from her story: know when to ask organizations for help. "Because they are humans, too. They have hearts, too."

Inspired by her story, GAF President John Barkhouse reached out to her personally and offered to take on the entire project. They connected her with Charm City Roofing, a Baltimore-based GAF Master Elite contractor who agreed to provide their labor for free. Ruby also coordinated with Green The Church to ensure that the renovated home would be not only safe but also sustainable, using best practices to reduce energy bills and adverse environmental impact at the same time.

She asserts that GAF, Charm City Roofers, and Green The Church have a massive heart. "There are individuals behind the organizations, and you have to just keep on asking. Do not be embarrassed. To get what you need, how is that embarrassing? For me to build a house for my daughter and my community, how is that embarrassing? That's a blessing, right? That's power, right? Open up your mouth. Stop allowing people to make you embarrassed — because you are one question away from your dreams."

Ruby shows Kim a window in need of repair, adjacent to one of the many Black art pieces that adorn her new home.

Thanks to her persistence and her willingness to put herself on the line, Ruby can now provide a home for not just her family but also others in the community. She says that her insistence on getting a yes or a no was what made the difference. And she won over those who had already agreed to help many more times throughout the process.

"You deserve the best," she reminds us. "One of my supporters, he said, 'Ruby, I'm not just helping you [for the sake of] the house. I want you to succeed. Not only does he want me to succeed, but God does, too. And so do I! So we have to have a foundation for us to build upon. We have to know we are worthy of success."

Abatement work continues unabated, replacing critically damaged substructures before an eco-friendly and energy-efficient roof can be installed.

Green The Church is grateful to GAF, Charm City Roofers, and Ruby herself. Her story shows that we have the power to turn our lives around — but only if we trust in others and trust in God to help us see our dreams through.