Before she resigned, the former chairwoman of the Pico Youth and Family Center reportedly returned a $1.6 million donation given to the nonprofit by the estate of a Pacific Palisades woman, Peggy Bergmann, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press.
The Daily Press reported Friday that money is now tied up in probate court, with the estate's attorney, Santa Monica-based Sonya Sultan, petitioning a judge to allow her to put the $1.6 million check in a separate account to accrue interest while she seeks advice from the state Attorney General’s office on how to proceed.
When the money was awarded, the youth center's Executive Director Oscar de la Torre said it was a "game changer." The nonprofit has been on shaky ground with the city, which provides the majority of the youth center's funding through a social services grant.
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The former chairwoman of the organization's advisory board was one of six who resigned late last year because of disagreements with de la Torre.
The Bergmann estate has made several big contributions to Santa Monica institutions in the past several months, including to Santa Monica College and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
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Click over to the Santa Monica Daily Press to read the full story, "PYFC fights to survive in midst of funding drought."
See also:
- Another Chance for Pico Youth Center
- Youth Center Rallies Support as It Faces a 'Major Setback'
- Youth Center Sinks Deeper Into Hot Water With City
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