For Immediate Release -
4/11/2007
Presidio of San Francisco receives $15 million gift from Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Major Philanthropic Gift Marks Milestone in the Presidio’s “Post to Park” Conversion
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San Francisco, April 11,
2007 -- Today, the nonprofit Golden Gate National Parks
Conservancy, with its public agency partners the Presidio Trust and the
National Park Service, announced a $15 million gift from the Evelyn and
Walter Haas, Jr. Fund to continue the transformation of the Presidio
into a great national park for all. Building on the Haas, Jr. Fund’s
support to the Crissy Field restoration in 1999, this new gift for the
Presidio of San Francisco to the Parks Conservancy raises the Haas, Jr.
Fund’s philanthropy in the Golden Gate National Parks to $30 million
total to date. Their combined gifts represent the largest philanthropic
cash contribution ever received for America’s national parks.
Speaker
Nancy Pelosi joined Robert Haas at the Presidio to announce the gift:
"The generosity of the Haas, Jr. Fund reflects the vision and commitment
to the public good that has secured our national parks. The Presidio
has stood for more than 200 years as sentinel to the Golden Gate. It
continues to do so now as a national park, due in large part to the
public-private partnership exemplified by the Haas family. This gift
will help the Presidio realize its potential as a park for all people --
a shining jewel for our city." In 1996, Congress passed legislation
drafted by Speaker Pelosi that created the Presidio Trust to preserve
the Presidio as an enduring resource for the American people. This
significant support from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund advances
an important era of park building and the ongoing “post to park”
conversion of the Presidio – an era begun in 1994 when this former
military post became part of the Golden Gate National Parks. The latest
gift from the Haas, Jr. Fund seeks to make the Presidio a park cherished
by people of the Bay Area, especially those who may have limited access
to outdoor settings and national parks. “For years now, the Presidio
has been understandably focused on its financial mandate to be fiscally
self-sufficient. We are so pleased that the Trust and the Parks
Conservancy are now able to turn their attention to the Presidio’s
mission as a national park for all,” said Robert D. Haas, a Haas, Jr.
Fund Trustee. “As we did for Crissy Field, our intention with this gift
is to help ensure the Presidio will be a place that is used and enjoyed
by the entire community. Our national parks belong to all of us.”
The
Haas, Jr. Fund gift focuses on community access to the Presidio.
Specifically, this new gift from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
supports the implementation of a comprehensive 24-mile pedestrian,
hiking, and bicycle trail network at the Presidio; and the
revitalization of the Presidio’s Rob Hill Campground – the only
overnight campground in San Francisco. These projects will advance the
Presidio’s value to the community as a national park for all and
continue to realize the Presidio’s potential as a national park
destination that brings outdoor experiences to youth, families, and
underserved communities – an aspect of particular priority to the Haas,
Jr. Fund.
“This new gift and its call-to-action builds upon the
Bay Area’s love affair with the Presidio and the Golden Gate National
Parks and demonstrates the civic spirit and generosity of our
community,” said Greg Moore, Executive Director of the Parks
Conservancy. “We are deeply grateful for the Haas, Jr. Fund’s commitment
to improving our parks for the entire community.”
The Haas, Jr.
Fund gift provides important momentum to efforts of the Presidio Trust,
which in cooperation with the National Park Service, has worked to
preserve and enhance the open space of this national landmark site –
including the trails, forest, and the natural areas. “Integral to the
gift is the vision we share for the Presidio as a tremendous resource
for our community, especially for the children and families of San
Francisco,” said Craig Middleton, Executive Director of the Presidio
Trust. “We believe the outdoor experiences offered by national parks can
be transformational for young people.”
The gift from the Evelyn
and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is intended to mobilize community affection
for these parks and public generosity for their long-term benefit and
stewardship. A portion of the gift – $10 million – is a challenge grant
for the Trails and Bikeways project, asking Bay Area philanthropists and
park supporters to join with the Haas, Jr. Fund in advancing the
Presidio’s mission as a national park for all with gifts of any amount.
From
the beginning of the Presidio’s conversion to a national park, the
Haas, Jr. Fund has been instrumental in its transformation. When the
Presidio’s closure as a military post was announced, the late Walter A.
Haas, Jr. served on the Presidio Council, a group of national volunteers
advising the early transition from “post to park.” Later, the Haas, Jr.
family through the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund provided a $13.5
million leadership gift to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
for the restoration of Crissy Field, along with a $4.5 million gift from
Colleen and Robert Haas. This leadership gift, along with many other
generous financial and volunteer contributions helped make this
shoreline site one of the region’s most beloved public places and the
recipient of national and international awards for the quality of
design, environmental restoration and community engagement. The Haas,
Jr. Fund recently made a $1.5 million additional gift for future
enhancements at Crissy Field. Today, Walter J. Haas, the son of Walter
Haas, Jr., serves on the Board of Trustees of the Golden Gate National
Parks Conservancy.
“This generous gift reaffirms the importance
of the Presidio to our local community, the region, and nation – and its
vital role in the lives of Bay Area residents,” said Brian O’Neill,
General Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Parks. “From its
earliest days, when Muir Woods was donated to the National Park Service
as a national monument, philanthropy and citizen action have come
together to create the Golden Gate National Parks.” Today’s gift from
the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund builds on that history and
initiates another chapter of community support for these treasured
national park lands. The Parks Conservancy, Presidio Trust, and National
Park Service invite donors, friends, and supporters to contribute to
the Haas, Jr. Fund challenge grant and help build the momentum to make
the world’s greatest urban national parks at the Golden Gate.