IRVINE, Calif., May 21, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WNC, a national investor in real estate and community development initiatives, announced today that its founder and Chairman of the Board, Will Cooper Sr., was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Housing Consortium. He received the award at the 2013 Senior Policy Forum & California Housing Hall of Fame Awards held in Sacramento on May 16.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those individuals who have made a profound impact and demonstrated a substantial contribution toward advancing the cause of affordable housing in California. Cooper Sr. received the award as a recognized leader in affordable housing, having testified before committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives regarding the sector.
"Will Cooper Sr. has dedicated his life and career to expanding and protecting affordable housing and we are proud to consider him a leader of our industry's efforts," said Geoff Brown, Chairperson of California Housing Consortium and President of USA Properties Fund.
Cooper Sr. is Director Emeritus of California Housing Consortium, which he cofounded in 1997 as the statewide housing advocacy organization representing a united front in a non-partisan effort to advance housing and community development across California. He founded WNC in 1971 to specialize in the development and syndication of affordable rental housing properties.
"Through my father's efforts and the organizations he supports, individuals and families of all ages across the nation have had a safer place to call home at an affordable cost for more than 40 years," said Will Cooper Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, WNC.
About WNC
WNC, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is a national investor in real estate and community development initiatives. WNC has acquired more than $5.9 billion of assets totaling in excess of 1,100 properties in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since 2000, WNC has been awarded four New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocations, totaling $178 million, and has facilitated development of 17 low-income community projects. WNC's investor base exceeds 19,500 institutional and retail clients, including Fortune 500 companies, multinational banks, and insurance companies. Additional information is available at www.wncinc.com.