Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

California has always been a beacon of hope and resilience. On this historic election day and every day, our commitment to protect and uplift our communities and our values of inclusion, respect, collaboration, and courage remain unwavering.     We’re proud to join forces with the California Black Freedom Fund, California Community Foundation, The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, College Futures Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, Latino Community Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, Meadow Fund, San Francisco Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Tipping Point Community, and Weingart Foundation to advance a future rooted in justice and equity.     Read our joint statement: https://lnkd.in/g3gQ9MAU    #StrongerTogether #UnitedForCalifornia #PhilanthropyForChange

From our Haas, Jr. Fund family to you and yours, we wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year ahead!

Thank you to the team at California Black Freedom Fund for hosting an insightful and informative convening last week on the State of Black California in Oakland! Haas, Jr. Fund staff enjoyed hearing from community members and advocates and learning more about solutions that have the potential to move the future of Black Oakland forward. 

“Philanthropy is united in its commitment to ensure that we have a more equitable community, and regardless of what’s happening in the federal government level, at the state level, that commitment continues and is as steadfast as ever.” -Miguel A. Santana, California Community Foundation President and CEO   As we look ahead, we are proud to stand steadfast alongside our funder peers in centering equity, opportunity, and justice in our work. Learn more about our commitments going into 2025: https://lnkd.in/epC5gVJj

We are thrilled to introduce two advisory councils for NASBE’s High School Transformation State Network! The first is made up of experts from Advance CTE, Aurora Institute, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Education Commission of the States, Education Resource Strategies, Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, GRAD Partnership, Learning Policy Institute, EdTrust, Mastery Transcript Consortium® (MTC), National Association for College Admission Counseling, Southern Regional Education Board, Teach Plus and XQ Institute, among others, to support us with project goals, share insights and relevant research, and facilitate connections across the state network. Students are also advising the Network. Our Student Advisory Council includes a passionate group of student state board members from across the country dedicated to transforming the high school experience for all learners.   We’re so excited to bring these organizations—and students—together and learn from them! More about NASBE’s High School Transformation State Network here: https://lnkd.in/ebbFf3WD #TransformingHighSchool

We are truly honored to celebrate the incredible impact of the Season of Sharing (SoS) program! Since 1986, this community-driven initiative—proudly partnered with the Haas Jr. Fund and the San Francisco Chronicle—has distributed over $100 million to support Bay Area families and food banks. From providing emergency housing assistance to meeting essential needs, SoS has been a lifeline for thousands in our community. 💙 None of this would be possible without the unwavering generosity and support of people like you. To everyone who has contributed to this mission of compassion: thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re making a lasting difference. Here’s to many more years of sharing, caring, and transforming lives! #SeasonOfSharing #CommunityImpact #Gratitude #StrongerTogether #SeasonOfSharing #CommunityImpact #GivingBack https://lnkd.in/e2sZzzA6

🎓 Exciting developments in California's higher education system! This insightful report by The National Association of Higher Education Systems highlights innovative programs designed to help students graduate on time while keeping college affordable—a critical step in removing financial barriers to postsecondary education. 📖 Explore the report 👇 Let’s continue supporting initiatives that make higher education more accessible and equitable for all students! #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #CollegeAffordability

This week and always, we are deeply grateful for the grantee partners and colleagues who we have the honor of working and being in community with. Happy Thanksgiving from our Haas, Jr. Fund family to you and yours!

This Monday, the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute traveled to Sacramento to host a policy forum on Latino representation in the California judiciary, in partnership with Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). Appointments Secretary Céspedes gave opening remarks, we heard from powerful Latina judges about their journeys to the bench, we presented new research, and we discussed strategies for improving representation. Fun fact. Imperial Valley (home) is unique for the diversity of its judiciary and Latino judges have served on the bench for as far back as I can remember. I was an aspiring lawyer as a kid, so I know from firsthand experience how meaningful it was to see people I knew-- who looked like me-- on the bench. Excited to work on this and proud of the IV judges rolling deep on the county superior court, district court, and CA Supreme Court.

“Anti-immigrant narratives...have demonized immigrants and refugees, and have helped shape a negative narrative around immigration and the border. One method philanthropy has adopted to push back on that kind of toxic rhetoric has been direct support for narrative change strategies. The aim is to shift the prevalent stories around big issues like immigration [and] racial justice.”    We’re proud to be included alongside many of our funder peers in Inside Philanthropy’s ongoing series on philanthropic support for immigrants and refugees.     Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/g5a8nE-s