California: Positive Resource Center Names Interim Director

As Positive Resource Center (PRC) continues to search for funding sources, the agency has turned to an outside consultant to see it through to 2003. The agency has named John Lipp as interim executive director. Lipp, who began work May 13, has been hired as a temporary employee initially for six months at $6,500 per month. He anticipates staying up to ten months as the agency searches nationwide for a permanent executive director. PRC helps people with AIDS sort through available benefits and also offers job counseling.

Lipp's arrival marks a turnaround for the agency, which only five months ago was fearful it would have to close its doors. Last fall, the agency learned its application for a $735,000 US Department of Education grant had been denied. In December, its executive director resigned, and the board of directors voted to layoff several staff members.

In January, PRC turned to the community to raise $175,000 by March in order to stabilize its first quarter cash flow and pay employees. The money represented 15 percent of PRC's $1.2 million budget for this year. With assistance from the community and its clients, the agency was able to keep its doors open throughout the winter and spring. Last month, at the request of Assembly member Carol Midgen (D-San Francisco), Gov. Gray Davis directed a grant of $150,000 to the agency. PRC also received a Horizons Foundation grant to help it through the summer.

"We definitely are stabilized right now," Lipp said. "At the same time, it is critical that we look at all of our fundraising and fundraising strategies so we don't find ourselves being held hostage by one or two key funding sources in the future," said Lipp.

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