
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 23, 1993                   TAG: 9304230265
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CHARITY DEDICATES NEW HEADQUARTERS

A Roanoke Valley charity services group dedicated its new headquarters Thursday in a ceremony to honor those who donated more than $200,000 for the new office space.

The Council of Community Services recently relocated its offices to 502 Campbell Ave. in downtown Roanoke after completing a fund-raising drive to purchase and renovate the abandoned building.

Clients such as the United Way and the city of Roanoke pay the council to monitor charity groups and determine how efficiently their donations are being spent. "We make sure that private and government donators get the most bang for their buck," said council President Stan Cross.

In addition to auditing other organizations, Cross said the council recognizes local charity needs and creates groups, such as Total Action Against Poverty, to combat those problems. The council then relinquishes control of those groups to avoid conflicts of interest.

Council offices were located in a Carlton Terrace building owned by the College of Health Sciences. But the council began looking for a new home two years ago when the college decided to expand.

The Beirne Carter Foundation gave $50,000, the largest donation, toward the new building.

Cross said that owning its own building will allow the council to spend more money on programs because it no longer will pay rent.

by CNB