Being Alive, one of Southern California’s first providers of support to diverse populations affected by HIV, has announced that it has selected Marc Haupert as its interim executive director.
Haupert takes the position on July 1. Garry Bowie, the executive director of Being Alive, died in April from complications of a COVID-19 infection.
Haupert has been affiliated with Third Sector Company, the interim nonprofit executive placement firm, since 2004 after a long tenure as executive director of Los Angeles Shanti Foundation. He has since served as interim executive for many Southern California nonprofits of all sizes and was named “Interim of the Year” by the firm.
Prior to his work at LA Shanti, Haupert was executive director of Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs and Chicago House and Social Service Agency. He has been involved in activism on behalf of all populations affected by HIV since the start of the HIV pandemic and in 1983 formed a group that started the first statewide AIDS service organization in Wisconsin. While with LA Shanti, Haupert worked with Being Alive to provide essential services to those living and succumbing to the virus.
In announcing the appointment, Being Alive President Carla Ford said, “we are grateful to have been able to maintain the important services of Being Alive in the face of the new pandemic that tragically claimed our leader. It was a satisfying coincidence that an experienced interim executive was available who had been a partner in Being Alive’s mission for decades. The board remains fully engaged in Being Alive’s future in service to the most vulnerable communities affected by HIV disease.”
In the announcement of his appointment, Haupert said, “I have long admired Being Alive, that sprang out of our activist community at the same time as LA Shanti, and filled important service gaps in the governmentally administered service array in LA. It is an honor to work among the dedicated professionals at Being Alive who put their all into their daily work, particularly during this new pandemic. I look forward to building on Garry’s strong foundation to continue serving our diverse client population in the most efficient and needed ways.”
Recognition events to honor Garry Bowie’s life will be announced by his husband, Jeff Wacha, in the future; and Being Alive will be announcing new initiatives in his name.
Since 1986, Being Alive has provided direct client support programs, services, and interventions to reach men and women of all ethnicities affected by HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County.
Being Alive has long been based at 7531 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. On July 1, Being Alive is moving into the building operated by Saban Community Clinic at 6043 Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles.
I do wish they had remained in West Hollywood, would be interesting to understand why they are moving, and how this impacts WEHO funding to BA?
I’m told landlord issues in WeHo.
Hope the new space is in better shape – this one has seen better days.