UWNNM News:

Because of  the generosity of residents in our community, United Way of Northern New Mexico is able to provide resources to focus on greater community needs. Helping a neighbor, helping a friend, and bettering our community. Here is an example of how we Live United.  We invite you to be a part of making your community a great place to live.

Pat Soran and Ann Hayes have lived and worked in Los Alamos for nearly 50 years. “Los Alamos is a special community that has given us much. Our children had the benefit of good schools and a nurturing environment.” Soran and Hayes said when we had the opportunity to talk with them recently.  “We would like to help ensure that future generations of Los Alamos residents also reap these benefits.”  After the Cerro Grande fire some years ago, the couple talked about what they would do if their home been one of those destroyed by the fire. “The pluses of staying far outweighed the cons of relocating.”

Soran has a PhD in Nuclear Engineering, is a retired U.S. Navy captain and a University of California employee for 27 years. He co-founded the Los Alamos Lunch Buddies Board Program (now part of Big Brothers/Big Sisters). From 1997 to 2005, he coordinated efforts to rebuild all of Los Alamos Tot Lots. He served on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico for 12 years. Soran is a 20-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos and a Master Woodworker of boxes, furniture and wooden vases.

Hayes has a master’s degree in Computer Science and was an employee of Los Alamos National Laboratory for 23 years. She is president of a local foundation, which serves children of northern New Mexico and is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos.

“We try to give our charitable contributions to organizations such as the United Way that fund local causes,” she said. “We also support the American Cancer Society and military service causes. We have volunteered through Kiwanis, the Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico, and the Los Alamos Lunch Buddy Program. We feel we have lived a very gifted life and need to ‘pay it forward.’ Our children are all on their own, with their own families, and we now have the time and energy to devote to those causes that we feel help our neighbors and community.”