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
$671 million in grants,
70 years of changemaking
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.
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2021
Celebrating 20 Years of Crissy Field
Photo by Jed Jacobsohn
Walter A. Haas III, Elise Haas, Nancy Pelosi, Jesse Eisenhardt, Betsy Haas Eisenhardt at Crissy Field.
20 years ago, the revitalization of Crissy Field literally reshaped San Francisco’s northern waterfront. No words can capture the subsequent years of joy and connection these precious lands provide to people near and far.
A former concrete and derelict US Army airfield, Crissy Field now serves as a treasured national park site, right in the heart of San Francisco. It is a safe haven for nesting birds and a sanctuary for calm where one can hear the waves and see the beauty of the sea and sky. Crissy Field provides a launch spot for exhilarating fun – whether you are a kite boarder, swimmer, dog lover, avid fisher, cyclist, walker, kid or a kid at heart.
People also meet at Crissy Field to connect, enjoy picnics and walks with friends and family amidst some of our city’s most iconic views — Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands and the San Francisco city skyline. This special place was made possible through the foresight and generosity of the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, park partners, and the mobilization of thousands of community donors and volunteers.
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2018
“This land is your land”
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.
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2010
Wake up in the woods—in the city
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.
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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 Campground2001
Crissy Field opens
With 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.
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1997
A thriving park for all
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.
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1986
Envisioning a park for all people
Photo by 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.
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