Letters from the President | Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

From the President

Changing the Odds

September 30, 2019 | by

Testing New Approaches for Protecting and Advancing Basic Rights and Opportunities for All.

Haas, Jr. Fund President Cathy Cha on moving past a challenging moment in U.S. history and investing in positive, long-term solutions for immigrants and communities of color.

Whether I am picking up my seven-year-old daughter or attending a performance at her elementary school, the scenario is often the same. I see her little face scanning the room to find me in the crowd. Then our eyes…

Lifting Up Community Voices

June 17, 2019 | by

Summer 2019 Letter from the President

In this letter, President Cathy Cha shares how new communities across the country are making their voices heard through organizing and coming together to work for change.

No matter where we are on the political spectrum, I think we can all agree that more participation in our democracy makes the country stronger. As we mark the 50-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising for LGB…

A Letter From President Cathy Cha

January 7, 2019 | by

The Haas, Jr. Fund’s new President pledges to advance a positive vision of a just and compassionate society for all.

In a letter to partners and colleagues, Cathy Cha says the Fund will work collaboratively and boldly for change.

I am honored and humbled to step into my new role as President of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Whether in the Bay Area or in other places across the country, our communities and our democracy are f…

Moving Forward

December 6, 2018 | by

A Farewell Message From the President

President, Jennie Watson, reflects on her 18 years at the Haas, Jr. Fund including the last two years as president.

In my 18 years at the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, including the last two years as President, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the transformation that can happen when people stand up for fairness…

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’…

LGBT Rights After Masterpiece

June 11, 2018 | by

Federal Law Protecting LGBT People is Realistic and a Long-Overdue Goal

Supreme Court decision shows the work of protecting LGBT families from discrimination is not done.

We have made significant progress for LGBT equality in our country in recent years. Many of us hoped last week’s Supreme Court Masterpiece Cakeshop decision would help blaze another trail to end the discrimination t…

Love, Unity, and Respect

August 23, 2017 | by

Let’s Show the World the Same Spirit that Restored Crissy Field

Haas, Jr. Fund Interim President Jennie Watson reflects on the meaning of Crissy Field, and expresses her hopes for a safe weekend.

As many of you have heard, there will be a Patriot Prayer rally at San Francisco’s Crissy Field on August 26th. The San Francisco event was confirmed after hate groups rained down mayhem and violence in Charlottesvi…

From Inspiration to Action

June 26, 2017 | by

Summer 2017 Letter from the Interim President

The Haas, Jr. Fund continues to engaged in deep, ongoing conversations with our many partners about what we can and should be doing differently to address the challenges and the opportunities of this moment.

It was six months ago when I stepped into my current role as Interim President of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Since then, I have been inspired by the amazing upsurge of leadership and activism across this…