LISC Names LA Times' Baum to Lead Communications NY bureau chief takes over marketing for national community development group NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Geraldine Baum, former New York bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, has been named senior vice president of communications and marketing for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a nonprofit that brings people together to transform distressed neighborhoods across America. In a memo to LISC's staff, Michael Rubinger, president and CEO, noted that Baum brings to LISC not only her extensive experience in the media but also "a strong commitment to our work and mission. I am thrilled that she has decided to make LISC the latest step in an illustrious career. Baum spent the last 23 years as a national and foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times stationed in Washington, New York and Paris. "LISC draws all facets of a community together - sometimes literally in one room - to make it better," she said. There are people in LISC offices all across the country who understand that one part of a community can't stand successfully without all of its neighbors. They help create affordable housing. But housing needs tenants with jobs. Jobs are driven by education and good schools. Residents need access to supermarkets and safe parks. LISC has so often been the invisible but critical force that knits together all these parts. "As journalists, we point out inequities to the public," she added. LISC gets the money and champions people to fix them. I am pleased to be part of telling that story. Headquartered in New York, LISC has 30 offices in cities around the country, and last year alone invested $1.1 billion in affordable housing and community programs. LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help nonprofit community development corporations revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Since 1980, LISC has raised $11.1 billion to build or rehab 277,000 affordable homes and develop 44 million square feet of retail, community and educational space nationwide. LISC support has leveraged nearly $33.9 billion in total development activity. For more information, visit www.lisc.org. Contacts: Geraldine Baum (212) 455-9848 or Gbaum@lisc.org