Gene Haas Foundation Donates More than $1 Million to Charitable and Education Based Programs

OXNARD, Calif. - May 13, 2013 - PRLog -- The Gene Haas Foundation today announced $200,000 in additional grant recipients, bringing total donations to Ventura County nonprofits in 2013 to $249,000, and totaling more than $1 million nationally.

The funds benefit a variety of programs, large and small, with a focus on educational scholarships, youth development and helping organizations that serve the most needy. Most recent Ventura County grants included a $50,000 to FOOD Share for a hybrid truck, $35,000 to Ventura County Rescue Mission to purchase a new oven, $25,000 in scholarships to Casa Pacifica’s former foster youth to attend college or trade school, and $25,000 to RAIN, a transitional living center to help alleviate homelessness.

Since its founding in 1999, the Gene Haas Foundation has helped more than 800 organizations nationwide, in support of local communities. “Our goal is to lead by example and help those in need. The organizations that are receiving the grants are making a difference in our local community, and we’re happy to support their efforts,” Peter Zierhut, director of the Gene Haas Foundation.

Note to editors: A list of all organizations that have benefited from the Gene Haas Foundation’s charitable giving in 2013 follows.

Founded by Gene Haas, the foundation has awarded more than $9 million to deserving charities. It was formed to fund the needs of the local community and other deserving charities. Of special importance to the foundation are children’s charities and organizations that feed the poor, especially within the local community of Ventura County. In addition, the foundation provides scholarship funds to community colleges and vocational schools for students entering technical training programs, especially machinist-based certificate and degree programs.

Gene Haas founded Haas Automation, Inc., in 1983 to manufacture economical and reliable machine tools. Today, Haas Automation is the largest machine tool builder in the western world. On its Oxnard campus, it employs some 1,500 workers with above-average wages and generous benefits.

Dedicated to creating and innovating efficient tools for the manufacturing and machining industries, Haas Automation strives to educate and employ a sustainable workforce. All Haas products are manufactured at the company's expansive facility in Oxnard, California – the largest, most modern machine tool manufacturing operation in the United States.

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Ventura County Organizations

American Cancer Society

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo

Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark

Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley

California State University Channel Islands Foundation

Camarillo Fiesta Association

Camarillo Hospice

Casa Pacifica

City of Oxnard Multicultural Festival

El Centrito Family Learning Center

Experimental Aircraft Association

FOOD Share

Las Colinas Middle School

Meadowlark Service League

Rain Project Transitional Living Center

Rio Mesa High School

Rio Mesa Scholarship Foundation

Shoes That Fit

Simi Valley Kiwanis

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

Thousand Oaks High School Baseball Boosters

Turning Point Foundation

Ventura County Community Foundation

Ventura County Rescue Mission