Evelyn Danzig Haas
Encyclopedia
Evelyn D. Haas was a prominent San Francisco Bay Area
civic leader and philanthropist
. She was the co-founder of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
. Under the leadership of Evelyn and her husband, Walter A. Haas, Jr.
, the Fund contributed more than $364 million to hundreds of Bay Area cultural, civic, and social service organizations.
and graduated from Wheaton College
in Massachusetts
, where she developed her love of art. She met her future husband, Walter A. Haas, Jr., while he was attending Harvard Business School
. They married and moved to San Francisco in 1940, where they raised their three children: Robert D. Haas, Betsy Haas Eisenhardt, and Walter J. Haas.
. She and her husband were instrumental in helping to raise the $95 million needed to build the museum’s iconic facility in San Francisco’s South of Market (SoMa) area; it opened in 1995.
Mrs. Haas was involved in the San Francisco Symphony
for more than 40 years and ultimately became a Life Governor of the institution. Under her leadership, the Haas, Jr. Fund provided the symphony with a $10 million lead challenge grant for the creation of Keeping Score, a wide-ranging initiative anchored by a PBS television series aimed at “bringing the power and joy of classical music” to millions of Americans’ homes and schools.
, a former military base, into a 100-acre urban national park. The Crissy Field restoration project is now regarded as a national model for how to engage diverse communities in the creation and stewardship of urban parks.
Mrs. Haas also was an avid fly fisher
—a hobby she picked up from her husband. She co-authored a book, “Wade a Little Deeper, Dear: A Woman's Guide to Fly Fishing” in 1979, which became a classic among fly fishers. It was one of the first books to encourage women to take up the sport.
’s annual Season of Sharing Fund, which her husband first launched in partnership with the newspaper in 1986. After Walter’s death in 1995, Mrs. Haas became even more active in the campaign as one of its most vocal proponents, writing personal letters each year to urge hundreds of friends and colleagues to contribute to the cause.
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
civic leader and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. She was the co-founder of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is a private foundation established in 1953 by Evelyn D. Haas and Walter A. Haas, Jr. As of 2011, the Fund has awarded nearly $390 million in grants towards advancing fundamental rights and opportunities for all....
. Under the leadership of Evelyn and her husband, Walter A. Haas, Jr.
Walter A. Haas, Jr.
Walter A. Haas, Jr. was a president and CEO and chairman of Levi Strauss & Co, succeeding his father Walter A. Haas. He led the company in its growth from a regional manufacturer and wholesaler of work clothes to one of the world’s leading apparel companies...
, the Fund contributed more than $364 million to hundreds of Bay Area cultural, civic, and social service organizations.
Biography
Born Evelyn Danzig in 1917, she grew up in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and graduated from Wheaton College
Wheaton College
Wheaton College may refer to:* Wheaton College , private Christian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois* Wheaton College , private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Norton, Massachusetts...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where she developed her love of art. She met her future husband, Walter A. Haas, Jr., while he was attending Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. They married and moved to San Francisco in 1940, where they raised their three children: Robert D. Haas, Betsy Haas Eisenhardt, and Walter J. Haas.
Making the Arts Accessible to All
Mrs. Haas was devoted to finding ways to make art accessible to all people, and is perhaps best known in the Bay Area for her leadership on the board of the San Francisco Museum of Modern ArtSan Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
. She and her husband were instrumental in helping to raise the $95 million needed to build the museum’s iconic facility in San Francisco’s South of Market (SoMa) area; it opened in 1995.
Mrs. Haas was involved in the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
for more than 40 years and ultimately became a Life Governor of the institution. Under her leadership, the Haas, Jr. Fund provided the symphony with a $10 million lead challenge grant for the creation of Keeping Score, a wide-ranging initiative anchored by a PBS television series aimed at “bringing the power and joy of classical music” to millions of Americans’ homes and schools.
Love of the Outdoors
Mrs. Haas was a great lover of the outdoors who was committed to ensuring that all people have access to the beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area. She and her family spearheaded the restoration of Crissy FieldCrissy Field
Crissy Field is a former airfield, now a part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in San Francisco, California, United States. Historically a part of the Presidio of San Francisco, Crissy Field was closed as an airfield and eventually the National Park Service took control over it...
, a former military base, into a 100-acre urban national park. The Crissy Field restoration project is now regarded as a national model for how to engage diverse communities in the creation and stewardship of urban parks.
Mrs. Haas also was an avid fly fisher
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
—a hobby she picked up from her husband. She co-authored a book, “Wade a Little Deeper, Dear: A Woman's Guide to Fly Fishing” in 1979, which became a classic among fly fishers. It was one of the first books to encourage women to take up the sport.
Chronicle Season of Sharing Campaign
Mrs. Haas was a leading advocate for the San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
’s annual Season of Sharing Fund, which her husband first launched in partnership with the newspaper in 1986. After Walter’s death in 1995, Mrs. Haas became even more active in the campaign as one of its most vocal proponents, writing personal letters each year to urge hundreds of friends and colleagues to contribute to the cause.