The Haas Giving Tree proved to be a huge success, with Haas School students, faculty, and staff giving more than 250 gifts to Bay Area families this holiday season.
Gwyn Jones, MBA 11, who organized the Haas Giving Tree effort, estimated that the gifts easily totaled more than $4,000 in value. The effort asked the Haas community to pick a wish card off of the Christmas tree in the Bank of America Forum and buy a gift written on the card for a disadvantaged child in the Bay Area.
Jones coordinated the program with the Family Giving Tree project, a local charity started by San Jose State MBA students that works with more than 200 Bay Area social services agencies to collect the names and wishes of the children they serve year-round.
Many members of the Haas community visited multiple stores to buy the right gifts, which included skateboards, hair curlers, blankets, and bike helmets. Others placed rush orders with Amazon.com to get gifts on time.
"It was really great to have been a simple catalyst for such natural generosity and kindness on our campus," Jones said.