FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 14, 2025
Contacts: Penny Martin, OHFA, pmartin@ohiohome.org
Hilary Marshall, OCCH, hmarshall@occh.org
OHFA and OCCH Honor Affordable Housing Leaders
From left to right, OHFA Executive Director Bill Beagle, Ian Maute of the Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, Sara Parks Jackson, Herman Hill (accepting on behalf of Athony O'Leary), and OCCH President Catherine Cawthon
COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and OCCH announced the 2025 William J. Graves Award for Housing Excellence recipient and the 2025 Ohio Housing Hall of Fame inductees Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Ohio Housing Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The two-day conference provided nearly 1,500 housing professionals the opportunity to network and participate in sessions focused on industry trends and program trainings.
The 2025 William J. Graves Award for Housing Excellence was presented to Buckeye Community Hope Foundation for its work developing affordable housing opportunities throughout Ohio, the Appalachian region, and Midwest, and providing support services to residents of their affordable housing developments. The award is presented annually in honor of William J. Graves, a former OHFA Board member who dedicated his life to developing safe, quality affordable housing throughout Ohio; strengthening Ohio's communities; and providing critical resources to the state of Ohio to prevent and end homelessness.
During the awards ceremony, OHFA and OCCH also inducted two new members into the Ohio Housing Hall of Fame: Sara Parks Jackson of Cleveland and Anthony O'Leary of Akron. Jackson devoted more than 30 years of her life to creating safe, affordable housing in northeast Ohio, and recently retired as the first director of Cuyahoga County's Department of Housing and Community Development. O'Leary also dedicated more than 30 years of service to the housing industry, including serving as the executive director of the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority for 25 years.
The Ohio Housing Hall of Fame was established in 2022 to recognize individuals who have dedicated their lives to improving affordable housing opportunities throughout Ohio. OCCH and OHFA received more than 20 nominations from industry partners for the Ohio Housing Hall of Fame this year.
The 2026 Ohio Housing Conference will be held in Columbus, December 1–2, 2026.
For more information, visit ohiohome.org/ohiohousingconference.
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency is an Equal Opportunity Housing entity. Loans are available on a fair and equal basis regardless of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, disability or ancestry. Please visit www.ohiohome.org for more information.