Gene Haas Foundation Announces $851,151 in Donations to Ventura County Nonprofits

OXNARD, Calif. - March 26, 2014 - PRLog -- The Gene Haas Foundation donated more than $600,000 in grants during the last half of 2013 to Ventura County charities. This brings total donations to Ventura County nonprofits to $851,151 for the year, aiding 46 Ventura County human service and education-based nonprofit organizations.

In 2013, the Gene Haas Foundation donated nearly $3 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. Included in the recent grant cycle were  Ventura College Foundation for scholarships; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme to help fund club services; Casa Pacifica for education services; Ventura County Rescue Mission for program support; FOOD Share; and Catholic Charities Ventura County, among other nonprofits.

Since its founding in 1999, the Gene Haas Foundation has helped more than 800 organizations nationwide, in support of local communities. “These organizations and charities in Ventura County are making great strides in bettering our local community. Our goal is to help sustain and broaden these organizations’ reach so that they can continue to make a positive impact on the individuals and families that they serve,” said Peter Zierhut, director of the Gene Haas Foundation.

Founded by Gene Haas in 1999, the foundation has awarded more than $15 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.

Ventura County Organizations

ACE Charter High School

Action Foundation

American Cancer Society

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo

Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme

Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley

California State University Channel Islands Foundation

Camarillo Fiesta Association

Camarillo Hospice

Casa Pacifica

Catholic Charities Ventura County

City of Oxnard Multicultural Festival

Channel Islands Maritime Museum

El Centrito Family Learning Center

Experimental Aircraft Association

FOOD Share

Garden Acres Santa Claus Inc. (Santa to the Sea Half Marathon)

Kingdom Center

Knights of Columbus, Oxnard Council 750

Las Colinas Middle School

Lighthouse for Women & Children

Los Primeros School of Sciences and Arts

Meadowlark Service League

Newbury Park High School

Oxnard High School Baseball

Oxnard High Band Boosters

Pleasant Valley Education Foundation

RAIN Transitional Living Center

Rio Mesa High School

Rio Mesa Scholarship Foundation

Rod McCarty Memorial Scholarship Fund

Shoes That Fit

Simi Valley Kiwanis

Society of St. Vincent De Paul

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

Thousand Oaks High School Baseball Boosters

Turning Point Foundation

Ventura College Foundation

Ventura County Community Foundation

Ventura County Jewish Family Services

Ventura County Office of Education

Ventura County Rescue Mission

Ventura County Sheriff Search & Rescue

Young Life Camarillo