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Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - The Resource Center quietly transitioned into an independent organization on July 1, under the fiscal sponsorship of The Tides Center. Although it is no longer a part of the City of Pacifica and will now function as an independent non-profit program, the outward appearance and services will be the same. Only the organizational structure has changed.
Economy of scale led this very small agency to transition to fiscal sponsorship rather than incorporate as a 50l c 3 nonprofit organization. After exploratory talks with a number of nonprofits about merging or fiscal sponsorship, the Tides Center proved to be the ideal match and the Resource Center is now a "project" of the Tides Center, with all "back office functions provided.
Pat Paik will continue to guide the Center as Executive Director, and, together with case manager Marina Castellanos, will continue to assist families in a financial crunch. The Resource Center plans to hire a part-time case worker in the near future and eventually restore the staff to three full-time positions to meet the continuing need for emergency services for Pacificans.
Both the Advisory Board and Feasibility/Steering Committee actively assisted in planning this transition by attending many meetings and through discussions with local individuals, city officials, and other nonprofit leaders both in our community and other nearby communities. These community leaders and The Peninsula Community Foundation, which supported the transition by funding a non-profit consultant to guide us, will continue to support the organization in its new configuration. The citizen advisors are working on a community party in the near future, a combination 30 years anniversary celebration and a "shower to recognize the rebirth of the Center!
The Tides Center has already impressed all the local participants by moving with extreme speed and competence, approving the "adoption of the Resource Center in record time, and getting all the necessary paperwork completed for the July 1 transition. (Please note: Donations to the Resource Center should now be made out to "The Tides Center/Pacifica Resource Center).
Although no longer an official part of the City of Pacifica, the City has pledged financial support for the Center for at least the next three years. The County will continue its contractual relationship with the Center and the Center is confident that the community will continue to support this community mainstay.
For 30 years, the citizens of this town have demonstrated a strong ownership of this place that helps to feed the hungry, house the homeless, swath baby bottoms, outfit the little children for school, and much more. We appreciate the advocacy and support of the Center during the transition process from Mayor Vreeland, Mayor pro tem Lancelle, Councilmembers deJarnatt, Digre, and Hinton as well as City Manager Joe Tanner and Parks Beaches and Recreation Director Mari Brumm-Merrill.
