Non-profit preservation leader and Boston Capital founder to be co-honored at November 13
reception in Boston
August 21, 2013
—
National Housing & Rehabilitation Association (NH&RA) announced today it will honor Vincent F. O’Donnell, who recently retired as Vice President Affordable Housing Programs at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and Jack Manning, co-founder, president and CEO of Boston Capital Corporation, with its 2013 Affordable Housing Vision Awards for career achievement at a ceremony on the evening of November 13 at the Langham Hotel in Boston. The event coincides with NH&RA’s Fall Developer’s Forum, an annual two-day industry-wide conference focused on the latest developments in affordable housing, historic preservation and sustainable development of both existing and new buildings.

The prestigious Vision Awards, initiated in 2004, recognize affordable housing and community development leaders in both the private and non-profit sector for their invaluable contributions and dedication to providing affordable apartments for America’s families.

“Both Vince O’Donnell and Jack Manning have painted on a huge canvas and made a difference in so many peoples’ lives,” said Thom Amdur, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of NH&RA. “In addition, they are both innovators who laid foundations for the good work of so many others.”

At LISC, O’Donnell headed a highly respected national initiative to support the preservation of at-risk affordable multifamily housing, a program that since 2001 has saved 20,000 units. He has devoted his career to not-for-profit entities, previously serving at Massachusetts’ Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. and Cambridge (Mass.) Neighborhood Apartment Services. O’Donnell is currently serving as a Senior Advisor at Preservation of Affordable Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Boston.

“In my view, it’s a privilege to work in the field of low-income housing,” O’Donnell says. “I came of age sharing the longing for social justice that was growing in this country. Well before I got into this field, I knew people whose lives were enhanced by affordable housing opportunities, and whom I deeply respected. But I was distressed by the persistence of severe housing problems, and decided to try to understand and do something about that. I was fortunate to be able to build a career learning both from the people who live in low-income housing and from an enormous number of remarkably talented, creative and committed colleagues. In gratefully receiving this award from NH&RA, I feel that all those folks should share the honor, since they have been my mentors.I know that, although my original question still hasn’t been fully answered, the affordable housing field is alive and well.”
Jack Manning formed Boston Capital in 1974 along with now-retired partner Herb Collins to provideequity investment capital for the development of apartment properties throughout the country and over 37 years has grown into the largest owner/investor in apartment properties in the United States. In 1986, Manning and his staff were instrumental in the creation of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program enacted by Congress. Boston Capital has acquired more t
han 3,100 multifamily apartment properties with over 190,000 apartment units with development costs in excess of $15 billion.

“Along with my colleagues and long time associates in the industry, I am very proud of what the Low Income Housing Tax Credit has accomplished over the past 27 years,” Manning says. “We have demonstrated that the private sector, in partnership with government, can find solutions to social needs that are both efficient and economically beneficial. It is indeed an honor to be recogni zed with the Vision Award but the success of the LIHTC and Boston Capital has been a team effort, of which I am proud to be a member.”

Vince O’Donnell and Jack Manning continue a NH&RA tradition of Vision Awards honoring those who have continually exhibited great foresight and incredible perseverance in addressing  affordable housing matters.
About NH&RA
NH&RA is the leading national trade organization for affordable housing and tax credit developers. Its membership is comprised of developers, owners, managers and professionals involved in the development, operation and finance of our nation’s affordable housing, certified historic rehabilitation projects, renewable energy facilities and New Markets Tax Credit financed businesses. Learn more about NH&RA at www.housingonline.com.
Complete List of Previous winners of the Vision Awards:
2004—John Corcoran, John M. Corcoran Company Kate Racer, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
2005—Jerry Flannelly, MMA Financial LLC Aaron Gornstein, Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)1
2006—Marty Jones, Corcoran Jennison Companies2
Mayor Thomas Menino, City of Boston
2007—Amy Anthony, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) Herb Collins, Collins & Company LLC
2008—U.S. Representative Barney Frank, Democrat, Massachusetts Larry Curtis, Winn Development
2009—Lisa Alberghini, Planning Office for Urban Affairs David A. Smith, Recap Advisors3
2010—Tina Brooks, Massachusetts Executive Office of the Governor4
1Mr. Gornstein currently serves as Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development, in the Massachusetts Executive Office of the Governor
2Ms. Jones currently serves as President & CEO of MassDevelopment
3Recap Advisors was formerly known as CAS Financial Advisory Services

Howard Cohen, Beacon Communities
Ed Fish, E.A. Fish Companies, In Memoriam
2011—Sandra Henriquez, HUD Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing John Mackey, CohnReznick
2012—James Keefe and Patrick Lee, Trinity Financial, Inc.
Patrick Clancy, The Community Builders
Contact: For additional information, please contact, Thom Amdur, Executive Director, NH&RA.
202-939-1753 or tamdur@housingonline.com.
To learn more about the Vision Awards visit /about/affordable-housing-vision-awards/.