COVINGTON — With a June 15 deadline looming to appeal the loss of nearly half of the Northern Kentucky Community Center's funding, backers are scrambling to save the East Covington social service agency.

        “Some entities are already carving our tombstone, but we're not going to roll over and play dead,” said Cliff Cooper, chairman of the center's board of directors.

The Northern Kentucky Community Center operates out of this building at 824 Greenup St. in Covington. (File photo) | ZOOM |

        Besides needing to show Greater Cincinnati United Way what the private nonprofit agency has accomplished with its United Way & Community Chest-funded programs, the center is dealing with a number of financial problems, including how to pay at least $80,000 in delinquent utility bills.

        More than 20 community leaders have met twice in the past week to discuss strategies for saving the community center building and its programs. They will meet again this morning to talk about ways to save $171,167 in fiscal year 2002 United Way funding — nearly half of the center's $360,000 budget — and ensure that the building stays open to serve the community.

        Two weeks ago, United Way notified the troubled agency that it was cutting its funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Some on the board are asking if the decision to defund the center has other motivation, which United Way emphatically denies.

        “We haven't been messing with the funds,” Mr. Cooper said. “We've been messed with and under-funded by United Way and other agencies. Some of these other entities that are thriving, like the Covington Community Center, why are they getting all the gravy, and we're not? Is it because we're black?”

        Located in the heart of Covington's African-American community in the former all-black, Lincoln-Grant School, the Northern Kentucky Community Center provides recreational programs for youths, a day care that serves 29 children, emergency food and clothing assistance, and other services to low-income families.

        The Covington Community Center serves mostly white West Covington and received a $506,129 disbursement for fiscal year 2002 from United Way.

        Carol Aquino, spokeswoman for United Way, responded: “The Northern Kentucky Community Center is not receiving funding for FY 2002 based on management practices and the unacceptability of its program outcomes.”

        In recent months, the Northern Kentucky Community Center has been criticized for poor record-keeping, nonpayment of bills, and weak administration. Several board members have resigned during the agency's struggle to continue and bolster operations.

        “I'm very much encouraged after Tuesday's meeting,” said the Rev. Charles Fann, minister of the Crucifiction Baptist Church on Covington's east side. “There are certain leaders who have skills that the community center can use, which I think will bring about a better community center.”

        Community activist Pam Mullins added: “There's a shortage of (community center) board members and those that are remaining are overworked. We in the community want to do what we can to relieve the pressure.”

        Charles Alexander, an architect and planner who has helped organize nonprofit groups in Cincinnati and Chicago, said he attended the recent meetings on the community center because he supports its mission to help people in need.

        But he said community center leadership needs to be more open with the public “on how it got to be in the shape it's in.”

        “You can't continue to throw money at something if it's sinking,” Mr. Alexander said. “If you're looking for my support and the community's support, you need to be really open with us.”

        While encouraged that the NAACP called the recent meetings to bring community leaders together to help the center, Mr. Cooper said many who attended the meetings have their own agendas.

        “And some of those people who say they're concerned have had ample opportunity to help us, but haven't,” Mr. Cooper said. As an example, he said in 1999, he distributed posters to 13 black churches in Covington seeking volunteers for the community center.

        “I got zero responses from that,” he said.

        Gerard J. Roerty, a retired P&G accountant from the Executive Service Corps who recently reviewed the center's financial operations, found no material findings indicating misappropriation. However, Mr. Roerty said that “fiscal controls were lacking and need major improvement.”

        Ms. Aquino said the United Way funds that would have been allocated to the community center in fiscal year 2002 have been set aside, while the United Way schedules community forums to decide what services are most needed in East Covington and solicits proposals from potential providers.

        On Friday, Ms. Aquino said that the United Way was continuing to consult with community leaders and that it wouldn't be holding any forums until the community center's appeal was finalized.

        “I believe we can put the community center back on solid ground, but it's going to take a lot of effort,” Ms. Mullins said.

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