The California Dignity for Families Fund is a public-private partnership with Governor Gavin Newsom that provides humanitarian relief and assistance to migrant families and unaccompanied children at the U.S.-Mexico border as well as Afghan and Haitian migrants. The Haas, Jr. Fund was proud to join 17 other funders to support CDFF’s second investment round.

Thanks to the work of a number of regional coalitions in California, counties including Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino secured fairer political maps that will help ensure all communities have fair representation in government and during elections.

Following the drastic increase in violence and hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in recent years, the Haas, Jr. Fund spearheaded the launch of the power-building Activate California initiative, which is dedicated to engaging AAPI communities - especially younger AAPI Californians - as more active participants in democracy and civic life.

This unprecedented three-year effort funded in part by the Haas, Jr. Fund provided public colleges and universities with the resources needed to set up and expand critical campus services that aid the educational success of undocumented students. The development of sustainability plans and advocacy training for student fellows was built into the effort from the start to ensure all participating campuses could maintain their services even after the fund’s sunsetting.

Funding from five California-based groups including the Haas, Jr. Fund supported the launch of the Community Learning Partnership’s California Youth Leadership Corps, a unique statewide initiative that provides historically marginalized youth with career pathways and resources to become local organizers and change agents in their communities.