Mon, January 12 2009

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City Names Board President Bruce Anderson as Interim Executive Director

NEW YORK - Richard Burns, Executive Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City, announced in December his departure from the Center. The longest serving leader of an LGBT organization in the United States, Mr. Burns has served as Executive Director since December 1, 1986. Burns has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer at The Arcus Foundation, and will leave the Center in early February, 2009.

The Board has named Bruce Anderson, the President of the Board, to serve as the Interim Executive Director effective on February 4. Mr. Anderson is a former Deputy Director of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and is trained as a social worker. A prodigious fundraiser, Mr. Anderson is excited to take on this role at the Center. “The Center is an incredibly vibrant, stimulating hub for the LGBT community in and around New York City,” Mr. Anderson said. “I am eager to work with the very talented staff and my fellow Board members during this time to ensure that the quality of programs and services remains as high as it has always been, and to also ensure that our fundraising efforts continue to provide the Center with the resources it needs to thrive.”

The Center’s Board of Directors has hired the employment search firm of Philips Oppenheim to conduct a national search for Mr. Burns’ successor. Becky Klein is the firm’s liaison to the Center for this search. Board members H. Gwen Marcus, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Showtime Networks, and Brian Offutt, Senior Vice President Creative Operations at Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, are leading the search process.

Potential candidates for the position of Executive Director may contact Becky Klein at Phillips Oppenheim at thecenter@phillipsoppenheim.com.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008, the Center has grown to become the largest LGBT multi-service organization on the East Coast and second largest LGBT community center in the world. Every week, 6,000 people visit the Center, and more than 300 groups meet here. The Center has four programmatic departments: Adult Mental Health and Social Services (including Center CARE and Center CARE Recovery); Youth Enrichment Services (YES); Cultural Programs; and Advocacy. The Center offers programs and activities that provide adult and youth counseling, social services and referrals, educational forums, advocacy, community organizing opportunities, coalition building projects, leadership development workshops, and cultural programs. For more information go to www.gaycenter.org.

Bruce Anderson Photo

About the Center

A beacon of hope for 29 years, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center builds and supports our community through arts and culture, wellness and recovery, family services and life-saving youth programs designed to foster healthy development in a safe, affirming environment. The Center envisions a world where LGBT people will no longer face discrimination or isolation because of who we are or who we love. We offer a welcoming home to 300,000 visitors each year and we are committed to serving all LGBT people through a variety of programs, services and activities that are designed to meet existing and emerging needs.The Center is many things to many people. We invite you to experience our home at 208 West 13th Street in person and online at gaycenter.org