
We are looking ahead to the future, ever dedicated to finding ways the Fund can make a unique contribution to this very special place in which we live.
Evelyn D. Haas
Explore our digital timeline to learn more about the Fund’s work and to find out about the heroic accomplishments of the leaders and organizations we have the privilege of supporting.
In an emotional ceremony at Crissy Field, 32 young immigrants are officially welcomed to the United States as citizens. The event spurs Haas, Jr. Fund Program Officer Sepi Aghdaee to reflect on her family’s immigrant journey, as well as her involvement in the Fund’s longstanding partnership with the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy in rebuilding Crissy Field.
The Fund’s $15 million gift to The Presidio, a former military post in San Francisco, leads to a 24-mile pedestrian, hiking, and bicycle trail network and scenic overlooks; and the revitalization of the Rob Hill Campground, the only campground in the city.
One of the many passions that my parents shared was creating opportunities for people to enjoy great public spaces and to connect with nature... Rob Hill Campground is a tribute to the idea that every single one of us should have the opportunity to camp under the stars, enjoy a s'more cooked over the campfire, and wake up in the woods to the sounds of nature.
Walter J. Haas, chair of the Haas, Jr. Fund at the opening ceremony for Rob Hill CampgroundWith years of planning and community support, Crissy Field officially opens with a spectacular celebration in San Francisco. The stunning national park attracts more than a million visitors a year.
The Fund grants $18 million for the restoration of Crissy Field ($13.5 million from the Fund and $4.5 from Colleen and Robert Haas). At the time, this is the largest cash gift in the history of the National Park Service.
The Fund makes a grant to support planning for the restoration of Crissy Field, a former military base in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, and its transformation into a 100-acre urban national park.