Transcript Annual Report 2007-08

45
Years
1963-2008
Celebrating 45 years of helping the immediate
needs of young people, through partnering with
secondary schools throughout Washington State.
45
Years
1963-2008
www.haasfoundation.org
mission
By supporting secondary schools throughout the state of
Washington, the Saul and Dayee G. Haas Foundation
is committed to improving the quality of life among
students in need. Together, our goal is to encourage
students to stay in school, return to school or get
involved within their learning community.
Empowering Students
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Years
1963-2008
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www.haasfoundation.org
impact
Northwest School for
Hearing Impaired
-Seattle
Shorewood High School
-Shoreline
A student asked to drop out of a
selective jazz choir. A conversation
with the school counselor revealed
that the student could not afford to buy
the required performance tuxedo.
Funds from the Saul Haas Foundation
covered most of the cost, allowing the
student to stay in a class he loved.
St. Charles Borromeo
-Tacoma
With Haas funds we were able to pay
band tuition for a student who lost his
mother to cancer and whose father
struggled to support him and his
sisters. This student loved music and
was able to express himself through
his music. Without the help, he would
have been unable to take band.
Many of our success stories focus on
our literacy program, which the Haas
Foundation directly supports. One
sixth grade girl started our school in
first grade. At that time, her reading
and English development skills were
at preschool level, and she had almost
no speech. Funds from the Haas
Foundation purchased books for this
sweet child this year, which allowed
her to continue participating in our
literacy program and reading
development techniques.
She now reads at sixth grade level,
and has beautiful speech. Hopefully,
with the help of the Haas Foundation,
she will continue to improve in her
literacy skills over her next two middle
school years. Most important of all,
this girl loves to read, which will enrich
her entire life.
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Years
1963-2008
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www.haasfoundation.org
volunteers
“Volunteers are seldom
paid, not because they are
worthless, but because
they are priceless!”
~Author unknown
2007-2008 VOLUNTEER
CONTRUBUTIONS
71 Volunteers
5,007 Total Hours
$92,146.28 SAVED!
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Years
1963-2008
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www.haasfoundation.org
2007-2008 impact continued
East Valley Middle School
– Spokane
Holy Family School
We had a new student in our
school who lived in a home with
no utilities. We were able to
provide him with clothing and
toiletries through the Haas
foundation. He showered here at
school and he had clean clothing
when he arrived. We saw a
marked improvement in the way
he carried himself at school and
with the way he interacted with
other students. We also had a
student who very badly wanted to
participate in Math Olympiad but
did not have the means to pay for
the entry fee. Using Haas
foundation funds she was able to
participate with other children
from her class. Her team did
extremely well.
Life was becoming stressful for two
parents who were trying to balance
family, work, and private education for
their four beautiful children. The dad
worked day shifts and the mom worked
night shifts, as well as attending school
during the day to earn an engineering
degree. The mom asked the school
principal if there was any help to be
found for her family, as she needed to
stop working in the evenings to be able
to spend time with her children by
helping with homework and being
available for their needs. The answer
was the Haas Foundation. The funds
helped the children attend school
programs and continue with their
Catholic education. Many tears of joy
poured down her cheeks. Her gratitude
and thanks were overwhelming.
– Auburn
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Years
1963-2008
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www.haasfoundation.org
Impact continues, with basic needs
John R. Rogers High School
-Spokane
In the night program, there are some pretty tough kids.
One girl was a particularly tough one. After several weeks
of patient work, none of her teachers had been able to
break through her defenses. She arrived every day sulking
and muttering under her breath. She refused to work and
would explode into a frenzy of expletives whenever she
was pushed to do academics. One day in the winter, a
staff member noticed her trudging through the snow in a
raggedy pair of Keds.
She stormed in as usual, sat down, took off her shoes and
socks, and began wringing them out. "Why don't you wear
a different pair of shoes?" the staff member inquired
casually. "I'm poor and I don't have any other shoes," the
student replied. "What if I could get you some?" the staff
member asked. "Yeah right," she replied. "No seriously,
what size do you wear?" the staff member asked. "8-1/2,"
she said.
Two weeks later, the staff member walked into her class
and discreetly placed shoes on her desk that were
purchased with Saul Haas funds. The student’s eyes lit up
when she opened the box and saw a new pair of
sneakers. Her entire demeanor changed. She was
shocked that anyone would take enough interest in her to
meet her needs. Her attitude has taken a complete 180degree turn since she received her shoes. She finally let
her walls down and began to take an interest in her
classes. The teachers see hope in her face and a chance
to effect change, and most importantly, a smile every once
in a while.
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Years
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www.haasfoundation.org
accomplishments
Student Success Stories
One of our students was struggling in all of his classes. He
didn't quite fit into a social group, and he tended to avoid people
when he could. When asked what he would like to participate in
at the school if he could, he said he always wanted to try
wrestling, but money was tight at home. Saul Haas funds were
used to help him purchase an ASB card and some wrestling
shoes, and he joined the team and loved it. Teammates
became his new buddies, and he became more outgoing and
participated more in class. He is a happier and academically
stronger student now.
—Summit View High School — Battleground
The Haas Foundation provided for an array of opportunities and needs to deserving students at the Washington State School
for the Blind during the 2005-06 school year. Four students benefited through the purchase of basic clothing needs, and one
lovely junior was able to attend her prom thanks to Haas monies. Two other students are now the proud owners of their own
monocular, low-vision devices which enable them to read street signs, see signal lights, and cross streets safely. Haas funds
also bought needed medications for several students, and provided two scholarships to a week-long science camp this past
May. The Haas Foundation has touched these children’s lives in significant, memorable ways.
—Washington State School for the Blind — Vancouver
Saul Haas enabled a student to purchase items for Fast-pitch and to pay the school fees. She had never played before and
had an excellent season. Without the fielding mitt and cleats she would not have been able to participate.
—Bellingham High School
A female student owned one pair of shoes (hand-me-downs) that were two sizes too big, and she seldom wore socks. The
Haas Foundation purchased her a new pair of shoes - that were her size. She was so happy and proud of those shoes. You
could see it in her eyes and posture for weeks.
— From Mary M Knight Junior/Senior High — Elma
A student who attended Washington Middle School did not have many clothes, shoes or even a coat to wear during the school
year. He lived in a shelter with his mother, who was not able to provide much in the way of proper clothing for her son. A school
counselor noticed the attire the boy was wearing and, concerned about his situation, took him to buy some of the essentials-using Haas Foundation funds. The student was so appreciative, and has since eventually ended up with a relative in a much
better situation. He still calls the counselor and tells her how much better his life has been as a result of the help from Haas. He
told her that the clothes and the coat really make him feel better about himself and his life at school.
— Washington Middle School — Seattle
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Years
1963-2008
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www.haasfoundation.org
connections
Give Secondary Students
a Chance!
.
—
During this past year, many hours of
hard work have been devoted to
planning our third friend and
fundraiser, the Jazz with Haas
event, kicking off October 12 2007.
This unique grassroots effort will
help spread the word about the
impact of the Foundation and
celebrate its 844 school partners,
serving 15,370. We thank the HEAP
members, volunteers, school fund
coordinators, and especially the
terrific event chair, board member
Martin Neeb, for organizing and
supporting this statewide effort.
In 1963, the Haas Foundation started helping
students at a single school in Seattle, Garfield High
School. Since then, the Foundation has grown to
annually disbursing over $372,000 statewide, without
ever having a major fundraising effort. It is a
remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the
commitment of our Board and supporters. But there
is still more to do. To achieve our ultimate goal of
supporting the needs of students in all the secondary
schools in the state, this year we initiated our first
annual community friend and fundraising campaign,
Give Secondary Students a Chance!
Our goals for this campaign were two-fold: raise
awareness about the Haas Foundation in the
community and needed funding for our schools.
Specifically, we asked our volunteer campaigners to
raise funding to help subsidize the growing demand
for one-to-one student support with matching grants
for schools.
Within four months, 42 volunteers shared the
Foundation's vision with more than 600 people in
our communities and raised over $70,000 for our
school funds.
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Years
1963-2008
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www.haasfoundation.org