Lung Association Lays Off Workers

Financial troubles have forced the American Lung Association to slash the number of people who work in its national office by 20 per cent.

In September, after finding that revenue for 1997 was about $1-million less than the projected $13-million budget, the national office in New York instituted a hiring freeze. That eliminated 15 jobs, but the charity determined last month that it was still facing a shortfall of about $2.5-million. An additional 23 staff members were let go last week.

“We just found that our revenue was not keeping up with projections,” said Joseph Bergen, senior deputy managing director at the American Lung Association.

Mr. Bergen said that the job cuts were made in all parts of the association’s operations but that the fund-raising office saw the biggest number of layoffs. “We’ve invested heavily in development in the expectation that we would realize certain revenue goals,” he said. “Those goals haven’t been met.”