Profiting From Work in the Community

Nat Hutton greets visitors with bear hugs rather than formal handshakes. Why touch hands when you can touch hearts, he figures. And by extension, why spend a lifetime working only for personal gain when so many others need help?

Settling into a chair in his office at the Norman and Trudy Lewis Valley Shelter in North Hollywood, Hutton, executive director of the Los Angeles Family Housing Corp., scans his desk, which is covered with photographs of his “extended family”--friends and colleagues whose lives he has touched over the years.

The 56-year-old former banker, who serves on the board of the Santa Clarita/San Fernando Valley chapter of the United Way, lives by his creed that citizens should serve their communities. And colleagues say that commitment often means 18-hour days, seven-day weeks.

“After working in a bank setting for 18 years, I realized I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing in life,” Hutton said. “I wanted to do work that made me happy, where I could give to the community. The rewards are not monetary, but they’re vast.”

Hutton, a Kansas native, has poured his soul into all his endeavors. After graduating from Washburn University in 1963 and completing a stint in the Army Reserves, he settled in Los Angeles and began a long career with Security Pacific Bank, which selected him for a Sloan Fellowship in business at Stanford University in 1974. Upon completion of his studies, he returned to the bank as a vice president.

He began his association with United Way in 1986, spearheading corporate fund-raising rallies for the organization, which disburses funds to 252 charities nationwide. He was the 1997 recipient of a United Way volunteer award.

Six years ago, seeking to fulfill his desire to work for the community, Hutton accepted the post of executive director of the nonprofit L.A. Family Housing Corp., where he has helped thousands of low-income residents find temporary and permanent shelter.

“Nat doesn’t treat his work here as a job, he treats it as his life,” said Jeff Farber, assistant director of L.A. Family Housing. “He’s truly committed to improving the quality of life in this community.”

Improving the lives of others also propelled businessman John Stevens onto the board of United Way three years ago. The New York native, who earned a business degree from New York University in 1964, has run the human resources departments for a number of large corporations in Los Angeles for more than 25 years.

Like Hutton, Stevens, 55, wanted to contribute his time and energy to the needy, particularly in the African American community.

“Most of my earlier years were spent on my own career building,” said Stevens, married and the father of three. “I reached a stage where it was time to help others. Anyone who can afford to help, should. It’s been very rewarding for me.”

“Nat and John bring a wealth of expertise and business knowledge to us,” said United Way Regional Vice President Greg Buesing. “They have a great deal of sensitivity and savvy, and are comfortable exerting leadership for the benefit of the community.”

*

Personal Best is a weekly profile of an ordinary person who does extraordinary things. Please send suggestions on prospective candidates to Personal Best, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338. Or e-mail them to valley@latimes.com