Leading by Example

By Sal Pizarro
San Jose Mercury News
Feb. 15, 2006

Leading By Example: Clark Williams, who has been interim executive director of the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center since November, has donated his salary back to the agency, a gift worth more than $20,000 according to the group’s board.

“Since I started here I have been so inspired by all the volunteers who come here every day and give of their time and their money,” Williams said. “I would go home and talk to my partner about how this agency thrives on the volunteerism of hundreds of people.”

Williams, who lives in Willow Glen with his partner James Moore and their 2-year-old daughter, landed the job after Patrick Soricone took a position with the United Way of Silicon Valley. The search for a permanent executive director is going well, Williams said. That’s good, because he'll only be in the job until March 15.

After that, Williams is taking a Paris vacation with Moore to celebrate their 40th birthdays. He'll stay involved with the DeFrank Center, however, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. “I would like to see it last another 25 years,” Williams said.