Chi. Clinic Names New Chair, Raises Funds

Chicago's troubled Howard Brown Health Center, which serves a largely LGBT clientele, has named a new board chair and is nearing a fund-raising goal.

The new chair is Karma Israelsen, who has been on the board since July, according to a Howard Brown press release posted by Windy City Times. She is vice president of regulatory operations and compliance for Career Education Corp. She will begin her term January 1, succeeding Mark Andrews.

Her selection is part of a transition plan to overhaul Howard Brown's board and put the clinic back on a sound financial footing. It has had severe money problems deriving from the mishandling of a federal grant by executives who have since left the center.

The clinic also announced it is nearing its $500,000 in 50 days fund-raising goal, with Thursday being the 50th day of the appeal. As of last week it had $50,000 left to raise, and an anonymous donor has pledged to match the first $25,000 contributed this week. The donor has already made $150,000 in challenge grants.

For information on how to donate, click here.