Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. has honored Brian A. Hudson Sr., executive director and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and James Cunningham, professor emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work, at its annual "community catalysts" fundraising luncheon.

"Without partners like these," said Aggie Brose, deputy director of Bloomfield-Garfield Corp., "we couldn't do anything in our neighborhoods."

Under the Home Ownership Choice program, which Mr. Hudson developed, Garfield was the first community to receive money, Ms. Brose said.

The program gives investors choices between new construction and rehabilitation of properties, including mixed-use, rental and retail. Garfield opted for a first phase of 50 new homes and has completed and sold 31. Several Victorian-era homes on North Fairmount Street have been renovated, homes Ms. Brose said "would have ended up on my demolition list. Now, they are beautiful and selling as fast as we're finishing them."

On being honored, Mr. Hudson said, "It's great, but the community does all the heavy lifting.

"When we started the project in 2000 it looked like a very long way to go, but now you can see the fruits of their labor. The entire area is turning around," reducing blight, crime and other social ills.

A second phase of funding will establish the Glass Lofts and Bride's Row, two housing clusters on Penn Avenue in which Bloomfield-Garfield is working with Friendship Development Associates.

Mr. Cunningham, who also has been a writer and a community activist, "has sprinkled this city with lots of nonprofit leadership and good community organizers," said Ms. Brose, naming Bloomfield-Garfield's executive director, Rick Swartz, as one.

The event, at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, drew about 160 people Friday.