Perspectives by Contributor | Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

Program Staff

Cathy Cha President Elect

Cathy oversees the Haas, Jr. Fund’s grantmaking and the development of program strategies.

New Vice President of Programs

October 23, 2018 | by

Welcoming Robert Joseph to the Haas, Jr. Fund

President-elect, Cathy Cha, writes about the Fund's new Vice President of Programs, Robert Joseph.

I’m writing to share some exciting news. The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund has appointed Robert Joseph as its new Vice President of Programs. This is a role I’ve filled for the past two years as part of the Fund’…

California Campus Catalyst Fund

April 9, 2018 | by

Helping Dreamers find safety and support on campus

New initiative supports California colleges and universities to offer expanded services for undocumented students and their families.

I am excited to share news about a new initiative that will help undocumented young people in California find urgently needed support at a time of unshakable anxiety and fear in their lives. Right now, in C…

Why I Am Hopeful

July 12, 2017 | by

Reflections on a Café with a Mission

In a column for Philanthropy News Digest, Vice President of Programs Cathy Cha lifts up some reasons for hope in a challenging environment for the work of social justice.

This article was originally published in Philanthropy News Digest. It all started with an email from a friend late last year. She said she was concerned about the tone of our politics and the direction in which o…

Teaming to Help Immigrants Become Citizens

May 30, 2017 | by

Why Five Grant Makers Came Together to Form the New Americans Campaign

Cathy Cha, Angela Cheng, Leslie Dorosin, and Geri Mannion on the five principles that are essential to successful collaborative grant-making efforts.

This article was originally published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Six years ago, five grant makers came together to form the New Americans Campaign because they believe immigrants can and do…

Stormy Night in Washington DC, Whitehouse

Philanthropy in the First 100 Days

May 3, 2017 | by

5 Questions Grant Makers Should Ask About the First 100 Days of Trump Era

Aaron Dorfman, Cathy Cha, Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, and Lateefah Simon present 5 questions philanthropy should consider in response to the current moment.

This article by Aaron Dorfman, Cathy Cha, Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, and Lateefah Simon was originally published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The end of the Trump administration’s first 100 days offers…

Searching for a New Program Director to Lead Immigrant Rights Work

January 30, 2017 | by

Haas, Jr. Fund Seeking Program Director for Immigrant Rights and Integration

At a time of great uncertainty for immigrant communities, the Fund is seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to oversee and strengthen its immigrant rights work.

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is searching for a program director to lead our immigrant rights and integration work. The job requires a bold, passionate, creative leader—someone who can work with us and…

How Citizenship Made Our Family’s American Dream Happen

September 21, 2016 | by

Reflections on the power of citizenship

Program Director, Cathy Cha, shares the story of her immigrant father and how the New Americans Campaign is working to eliminate the barriers for naturalization.

During Welcoming Week, I am reflecting on the story of my immigrant father and the act of citizenship that made our family’s American dream happen. My father, Hyoju, was born on a rice farm in South Korea. At age…

Celebrating California’s Path to Inclusion

May 23, 2016 | by

Two decades later, a very different approach to immigration

How did California go from Proposition 187 to the TRUST Act in two short decades?

In 1994, California voters approved one of the harshest anti-immigrant laws in U.S. history, Proposition 187. Today, as we mark the 20th annual Immigrant Day in Sacramento, our state is recognized as having the stro…