Hafen Named United Way Dixie Prez

By Linda Sappington

Tadd Hafen, a CPA in the accounting firm of Hafen, Buckner, Everett and Graff, has been named president of the United Way Dixie board of trustees. A lifelong resident of St. George, Hafen was first associated with United Way Dixie in 1997. Prior to his nomination and election to the non-profit organization's top spot, he served as treasurer from July, 1997 to June, 2000.

His professional career includes graduation from Dixie College in 1989. He went on to earn a Masters Degree from Southern Utah University in 1992. He joined Hafen, Buckner, Everett and Graff in 1990, prior to completing his CPA in 1992. In 1997, he was designated a Certified Valuation Analyst.

United Way Dixie, with a mission "to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another," is one of 1400 independent, separately incorporated community-based United Way organizations in the country. According to Hafen, United Way volunteers raise funds through a single community-wide campaign to support local non-profit, tax-exempt charitable agency service providers, helping hundreds of Washington County residents in need. United Way Dixie funds are appropriated for human services ranging from disaster relief, emergency food and shelter, crisis intervention and day care, to physical rehabilitation and youth development. Apart from government, United Way supports the greatest variety of health and human services in the community.

According to Hafen, United Way Dixie funds available for allocation amounted to approximately $125,000 last year - while requests for funding totaled more than $220,000. "Our goal in our fund drive, currently underway, is to raise at least three times what we have done in the past," notes the accountant. Hafen believes the upcoming Indy Race (www.indyrace.skywestcentral.com) and matching funds from Williams Pipeline will go along way to bridge the gap between available and requested funding. Even with the hope of additional funding from outside sources, Hafen encourages local businesses to allow United Way Dixie representatives the opportunity to meet with employees and tell the United Way story in a short presentation.

In addition to his affiliation with United Way Dixie, Hafen also serves on the board of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society and is an active supporter of the Children's Justice Center.