PPIE to stay PPIE to stay (December 19, 2003)

Organization not affected by Volunteer Center's future
by Teresa C. Brown

Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation (PPIE) will not be affected by the turmoil at the Volunteer Center of Alameda County as the center closed the doors of its Oakland workplace and downsized its Pleasanton office.

"It's not going to affect PPIE," said Executive Director Leslie Coonan. "It's a city-owned building." PPIE is a nonprofit organization that partners the business and education communities.

PPIE currently operates from an office in the same building that houses the Volunteer Center at 333 Division St.

"I've talked to the city briefly and I think our space is going to be OK," Coonan said.

She explained that about five-and-a-half years ago the volunteer center offered a room to PPIE. In lieu of rent, PPIE pays a fee to help cover insurance, she said.

The volunteer center's board closed its Oakland office two weeks go in response to financial difficulties and has "scaled back" its Pleasanton office, but is still offering services. The center promotes both adult and youth volunteerism. Prior to the closure, the organization had been operating for 25 years and had offices in Oakland and Pleasanton.

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