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Home > Archive > Apr 10, 2008

'Community Hero' Continues Long-Distance Giving
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
Though he's thousands of miles from his hometown, a Santa Clara man is still making a difference for a St. George charity.
Brad Hafen is currently serving in the South Africa Durban Mission with his wife, Mary Jo, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the service he rendered while he was in the United States continues to benefit local residents.
“He's gone but hasn't gone away,” Debbie Justice, executive director of The Learning Center for Families, said.
On March 28, Justice and others at TLC for Families accepted a check for $15,000 on behalf of Hafen, who was among 30 nationwide honorees to receive the first annual Community Hero Awards given by Safeco Insurance to outstanding agents throughout the country. A prize of $15,000 was Hafen's reward for his diligent community activism, and the prize money was to be donated to the charity of his choice.
“This was a nationwide search for community heroes by Safeco Insurance,” Ginger Farnsworth, manager of Hafen Insurance, said.
Farnsworth was the person who nominated Hafen, the owner of Hafen Insurance, for the award for his more than 10 years of “heroic” service to TLC for Families.
TLC, a nonprofit agency that serves children from birth to age 3 and their families, helps children with learning delays, moderate disabilities or diagnoses associated with a disability. The agency also serves low-income pregnant women and families of children 0 to 3 with its Early Head Start program.
TLC has helped nearly 5,000 children in Washington County and in the Colorado City, Centennial Park and Cane Beds, Ariz., area since opening its doors in 1993. Nearly 50 percent of the children served by TLC do not need any other type of special education services beyond the program, Justice said.
Government-funded programs throughout the country, like TLC, specialize in training, education and prevention to help developmentally delayed infants and toddlers get caught up to age level – a crucial service for many children, Justice said.
“Brain research shows us the first three years are the most critical,” she said.
TLC relies heavily on the aid of donors and volunteers to keep its work and programs running smoothly, and Hafen is one who has been an invaluable asset to the program, Justice said.
“He's beyond the best,” she said. “He's just totally dedicated to this program.”
Hafen has advocated for TLC since 1994, serving on the agency's board of directors for 12 years and serving as its president for nine. During that time, he also personally financed and carried out several construction projects for TLC, including remodeling a warehouse for the agency's infant-toddler therapy program. He additionally headed up a capital campaign, still ongoing, to raise $1.5 million to build a new facility for TLC. The $15,000 donation through Safeco Insurance will go toward that goal.
“That was Brad's hope, that it would help with the new building,” Farnsworth said.
“We are bulging at the seams in our current building,” Anita Painter, chair of TLC's board of directors, said.
With the vast growth in Washington County over the last few years, the number of children needing TLC's services has grown considerably, Justice said. The agency recently had an unprecedented 35 new client referrals in one week, and the current facilities just aren't sufficient to accommodate that many children and families, she said.
An anonymous donor gifted property for a new building on Tonaquint Drive to TLC, but the agency still has $250,000 to go to break ground for the facility. Donations like Hafen's are putting them that much closer to their goal.
“It's a big boost for our building fund,” Justice said.
Though he is far away and busy with missionary work, Hafen is still keeping tabs on his favorite charity to make sure things are going well at TLC as the agency works toward the attainment of its new building. Hafen has even called TLC from South Africa to check in, Justice said.
Hafen's son, Tyler Hafen, an agent at Hafen Insurance, presented the $15,000 check to TLC on behalf of his dad.
TLC's building fund capital campaign is ongoing, and those interested in contributing to the cause should call Annette Basso at 680-5180. Those interested in volunteering at TLC should call Dixie Spencer at 673-5353, Ext. 23.
For more information about The Learning Center for Families, including services, visit www.tlc4families.org.

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