Message from Steve Banzhaf, Chair, United Way Board of Directors

I am pleased to send you a message in my new role as Chairman of the United Way Board of Directors. Serving United Way in this capacity is both an honor and a privilege. I feel very strongly about the importance of giving back to our community. I know that each board member is also deeply committed to working to improve community conditions. It's great to have the opportunity to serve with so many like-minded individuals.

Among the many people who will help make my role easier are the members of the Steering Committee. Ron Sable, Vice Chair; Neal Eckel, Corporate Secretary; and Christine McNamara, Treasurer, will serve as officers. Rosalva Bullock and Bennett Burke serve as Community Development Co-Chairs, and Larry Finuf is the 2007 Campaign Chair. I thank them all for their service and dedication to United Way. We are also fortunate to have many other volunteers who will assume various leadership roles this year. I am grateful to all of them for sharing their various talents with us.

I am also excited about the strategies we will use this year to engage more people with United Way. The Tocqueville Society will continue to grow under the leadership of Tom Feeney and Carmen Bermúdez. The Young Leader's Society, with Lynn Cunningham Ryan and Jason Ott at the helm, has created a dynamic new avenue to connect with Tucson's leadership group of tomorrow.  In addition, an exciting new Women's Leadership Initiative will be launched this year. Finally, we will be embarking on a new Planned Giving initiative, the Dynamic Collaborative, which will enhance our ability to solicit, receive and administer major cash and hard-asset gifts.

Working together to improve community conditions is the essence of what United Way is all about -- because together we will do what no one person can do alone.

~Steve 

More about Steve:

Steve Banzhaf presently serves as Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor for Bank of America.   Prior to joining B of A, Steve worked for a national brokerage firm for three years.  Steve actively practiced law in Tucson for 27 years before joining the brokerage firm.  Steve received his BA from Brigham Young University and his J.D. from the University of Arizona.  Steve is a Tocqueville Society member and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona.

Steve Banzhaf !!!