JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida board of governors has fired its president and the chairman of the board will run the organization while it searches for a new leader.
Dr. Shannon Perry was president of the club for six years, and during that time the group has relied on government and grant funding.
Arnold Tritt Jr., chairman, said that the board's decision had nothing to do with mismanagement or other problem. He said that the organization is going to begin a campaign to raise money through private donations to fund programs, build new clubs and renovate existing, and was just moving in a new direction.
"We are going to continue to provide the best service for the after-school kids space. Nothing is going to change in that regard. We are not changing any other staff,: Tritt said. "Dr. Perry has a Ph.D. in social work. Someone who has come to the Ph. D. level in social work might have a tough time knocking on the doors of wealthy people and organizations and asking them for money."
Tritt said that Perry did a great job for the organization and the decision to part was made strictly because the board thinks that it is what is best for the thousands of kids that take part in the club's activities.
He said that he will lead until a new president is hired, a process that is already underway. He hopes they may have a new president in place within 30 days.
"We actually commenced the process about two weeks ago. We began collecting resumes and conducting initial interviews," Tritt said.
If a new president is not hired within a month, the Boys and Girls Club of America will send down an interim president to make sure that the group is being run effectively and the search is being done correctly, Tritt said.