Member turned board member praises YMCA

Shortly after Karen Haller and her family left Tucson, Arizona and made Las Vegas their home, they found a second home at the YMCA. At the time, Haller’s now-teenage children, Mark and Sarah, were the prime age for YMCA programs. Little did the mother of toddlers know then that years later, she would serve as a board member for the organization that engaged her children in youth sports and summer camps.

Haller is vice president/general counsel and compliance officer for Southwest Gas Corporation. The company’s current CEO, Jeff Shaw, served on the YMCA board of directors prior to Haller. Shaw approached Haller to assume the volunteer leadership position when he transitioned into Southwest Gas’ top job. A community supporter and long-time fan of the YMCA, Haller was happy to serve.

“As a parent whose children went to the Y, I had nothing but positive experiences. The programs and facilities were great, and the Y always offered a nice mix of fun, affordable activities and childcare services,” Haller said. “That’s still the case, and it’s wonderful to see so many families enjoying everything the Y has to offer.”

Now as a board member who serves on the finance committee, Haller and her colleagues review the Y’s financials and make recommendations regarding expenditures and investments to the full board. Haller takes her job seriously because she knows her guidance matters.

“The Y is run really well by people who care, and it shows,” Haller said. “All of the individuals I’ve been involved with at the board and management level are dedicated – and dedicated for the right reasons.”

While the YMCA has long played a significant role in the lives of families in Southern Nevada, Haller said the organization fills a unique niche in these uncertain economic times. By offering affordable programs and providing scholarship assistance to those who qualify, the YMCA gives families a place to play and learn together, according to Haller.

“I always encourage people to donate and support the Y because it offers a full range of family-oriented programs,” she said. “All of the activities are presented in a fun, positive way, and that is what’s really at the core of the organization.”