THE LEDGER-STAR
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 9, 1994 TAG: 9408090592
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Paul F. McCleary is retiring as president of the Christian Children's Fund, the Richmond-based international charity embroiled in controversy over its money and management, board members say.
McCleary, who took the helm of the child sponsorship organization in 1988, will leave CCF in November, about six months before his 65th birthday. He earns $154,615 per year.
Dr. Thomas H. Naylor, an economics professor and ousted member of the CCF board, sparked public scrutiny of the charity in May with allegations of mismanagement.
``The resignation of Paul McCleary represents an important first step towards the return of stability for a great organization,'' Naylor said Monday by telephone from Vermont, where he teaches at Middlebury College.
Naylor, who was removed from the CCF board in February after a bitter board dispute over CCF's direction and financial management, urged a further shakeup of the CCF board and staff.
Yet current board members applauded McCleary Monday, as they have done throughout the public dispute.
``He worked tirelessly for Christian Children's Fund,'' said Walter F. Sullivan, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
``He gave us a new vision ... of working with other international groups, of seeing the work among children as not to be something competitive but something (where) we ought to reach out to others in helping the children of our world.''
Before Naylor's ouster, Sullivan wrote letters to Naylor questioning CCF management. In one such letter last winter, the bishop told Naylor that ``so many things now undertaken by CCF have little to do with helping children in a direct way.''
In the same letter, Sullivan decried McCleary's ``apparent tyrant style.''
Sullivan and three other board members said McCleary's decision was not prompted by the board.
``It came up for discussion (July 19) because he is nearing retirement. ... This was his decision,'' the bishop said.
KEYWORDS: CHARITY
by CNB