October 6. 2000 ' J u s t o u t maintaining separate corporations weren’t warranted," Watson says. ful things.” The foundation provided the basis for the birth of Cascade AIDS Project back when everyone thought AIDS wasn’t going to affect The decision many people, Sheperd recollects. “(Phoenix Ris ing] had tremendous vision,” she says. ) hoenix Risings board was faced with three Jerry Weller was also around during the choices: Look for another partner, quickly 1970s when the initial Phoenix Rising pro raise the money to cover the projected deficit, or gram was part of the Town Council Founda become a program of Network Behavioral tion, for which he served as the first executive HealthCare Inc. director. “To me, it’s very sad,” he says, “hut it Watson says the final decision was made is an indication of what’s going on in Oregon after considerable soul searching and discussion. gay politics.” The bottom line, she says, was that the services Weller sees a lack of motivation and com to Portland’s gay community had to survive. mitment to support organizations like Phoenix On July 26, 2000, Phoenix Rising’s board Rising. He says other small groups are facing decided to close the door on a long tradition in an similar struggles. attempt to keep ser “If I win the lottery, vices available to its I’d get this stuff up clients. The vote was and going again,” unanimous. Sheperd says, The change was although she admits contingent on con she’s not close tinued United Way enough to the situa funding and approval tion now to know by Network’s board what services are of directors. Both available in the wake contingencies were of the foundation’s satisfied, leaving closing. leaders the burden of Nelson served on telling the communi Phoenix Rising’s ty and walking away board of directors for from 20 years of ser four years during the vice. 1990s. He says the "To me, it's very sad, but it is an Although public board was focused on perception might be accessibility and indication of what's going on in that Phoenix Rising’s wanted to keep the Oregon gay politics. " organization afloat ultimate fall stemmed from the embezzle because of the sliding — Jerry Weller scale issue. ment and financial mismanag e m e n t , The big players in managed care weren’t interested in working Watson wants the community to understand with the small foundation, Nelson says. With many other important factors were at work. She says that youth services weren’t adequately out being on a managed care panel, the foun funded from Day One, that grant money wasn’t dation would have a difficult if not impossible coming in and that donor appeal letters were time staying alive, he explains. yielding little. Not only that, the growth of gay-friendly But most significantly, Watson says, few mental health services in the area ironically con tributed to the financial problems at Phoenix small organizations can survive the complexity of managed care while offering a sliding scale to Rising. “Mental health has been very gixxl about clients. The combination of these things, she getting our issues," Nelson says. The growing number of mental health professionals who offer insists, brought Phoenix Rising down. queer-specific services gives clients options, and many stopped seeking out Phoenix Rising. Sadness is the common reaction Weller agrees. Gay counseling services were needed in the 1970s, but these days people are more comfortable going to mainstream organi * * T ’m anguished,” says co-founder Susie Shep- zations instead, he says. “It may mean there is no ,1 erd, who thinks the organization was one of the most needed services to the entire com need for this anymore.” munity— especially for younger people. “Phoenix Rising just did monumentally wonder Continued on Page 26 i How I t A ll B egan 1 The foundation was laid for Phoenix Rising more than two decades ago by Pat Y o u n g s the Phoenix Rising because he knew three people who Foundation closes its had committed suicide because they doors, it leaves be were gay. hind a rich history Organizers agreed on a counsel along with years of ing service, but opinions differed service to the community. regarding the infrastructure. Some Its roots lie in the Portland Town women wanted it to be run by vol Giuncil— the main gay organization during the unteers, while the men wanted to have a paid mid-to-late 1970s. As former executive director staff and a qualified professional as the director. Jerry Weller recalls, the group followed the The men prevailed. In December 1980, example of the American Civil Liberties Union, Cherry Hartman was hired as the head of coun which separated political and nonpolitical seling. activities. “They hoped to hire one Thus, the Town Council Foundation man and one woman to he was established for non co-directors, but they never political issues such found a man they liked,” as a speakers bureau, she says with a laugh. “So legal referrals and they hired me instead.... education. Board The women were thrilled members, hoping to when I was hired but dis increase donations, illusioned when I didn’t wanted the group to be take their side on every tax-exempt, but the thing.” Internal Revenue Ser The foundation’s vice wasn’t exactly counseling program inclusive. was known as “Slowly, the idea came Phoenix Rising. By to sue the IRS, which was 1983, counseling had not giving tax-exempt sta become the main tus to gay organizations,” focus of the Town Weller explains. “But after Council Founda President Carter was elected, tion, so it adopted that all changed. And then Phoenix Rising as six gay groups across the the name of the nation finally received their organization. tax-exempt status.” “The counsel The Town Council Founda ing program just tion incorporated as a nonprofit erupted,” Hart agency in 1978 with Weller as man says of the executive director. Then came early days. the fund raising. “My “The timing partner...received a bonus at was right. It work and gave the entire thing was fairly easy It wasn’t to the foundation,” Warren to get a lot of all serious business at James says of Jack Abele, an clientele since Phoenix Rising— there were dances, orthopedic physician. there was a real weekend retreats and other fun events Weller notes, “Getting the need out there.” $30,000 was a complete shock.” As Hartman Back then, $30,000 was a lot of money—so explains, people were uncomfortable coming much, in fact, that the foundation held several out to straight counselors. “A lot of counselors meetings to determine the best way to use it. either didn’t know what they were doing or were Setting up a counseling service was one of kind of freaked out and would send (clients) to the main uses for the funds. 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