After 53 years of service, Mr. Helmon Johnson is retiring from Pearl River Valley Opportunity, Inc. Mr. Johnson began his career with PRVO in 1969. He served as Director of Neighborhood Youth Corps and Deputy Director for 23 years. Mr. Johnson has been the Executive Director of PRVO since 1997. Under his leadership, PRVO constructed 337 affordable homes for low-income families, annually assist at least 5,000 low-income, elderly, and disabled customers through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), assist 726 families to avoid foreclosure/eviction annually, coordinated efforts with Mississippi Home Corporation to assist eligible households with RAMP applications, partnered with the Lamar County Board of Supervisors to operate Senior Meal Sites in Lumberton, Oak Grove, Sumrall, and Purvis, and assist Head Start/Early Head Start families with health and dental services. As Executive Director, Johnson has been instrumental in the agency's growth. PRVO grew to staff 450 employees with an annual budget of $30 million.
