United Way's L.A. chapter president broadens his scope.

JOSEPH Haggerty found his niche in life early. In 1972, he received a master s degree in community organization and planning and started working at United Way in Connecticut.

After 32 years with the same organization, he is going to Washington, D.C., to become chief operating officer of United Way of America, the national umbrella group of about 1,400 independent United Way chapter.

Since 1995, the 55-year-old Boston native has been president of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. When he started, the national organization was still recovering from the fallout of a scandal that resulted in the resignation and later conviction of its chief executive, William Aramony. "The media were wondering whether the organization would survive," said Haggerty.

Annual fundraising at the local United Way reached $58.5 million in 2003 from $57 million in 1995. Haggerty has also focused on United Way's "social reporting," which has included studies on county poverty issues, literacy and the Latino community. These research reports "set the action plan for giving for both United Way and the government," he said.

"United Way of America does things United Way (of Los Angeles) can't do on its own," Haggerry said. "I will manage the entire business side of the organization, financial, legal, doing national positioning around fundraising and community impact."

Haggerty will miss the diversity of people he works with in Los Angeles. "Part of the day I could be with some low income people and right after that I could be with bank presidents," he said.

Haggerty is married and has a 5-year-old son. His hobbies include running the Boston Marathon, golf and skiing.