Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership
Community Activities
Being involved in the Bay Area community is an important way to act on social interests, gain current work experience, and network for future employment opportunities. Haas facilitates MBA community involvement through the programs described below.
10th Annual Public Leadership Dinner
Our 10th Annual Public Leadership Dinner on April 7, 2008 (6-9:30pm), International House, Berkeley, California was a sold out event with over 230 alumni, students, business and nonprofit sector leaders. Our featured keynote speaker, Leonard D. Schaeffer, Founding Chairman and CEO, WellPoint delivered a riveting speech entitled "Fixing Health Care -- the Role of Public and Private Sector Leadership." Download his powerpoint.
Board Participation
Berkeley Board Fellows is a volunteer program that places Haas MBA students, Goldman MPP, and other graduate students as Fellows on local nonprofit boards of directors. Student Fellows work closely with executive directors and board members, serve on board committees, attend full board meetings, and participate in special events and projects. Essentially, they act as non-voting members of the board during their nine month term.
The Berkeley Board Fellows Program accepts student applications in the fall semester. Nonprofit organizations interested in the Berkeley Board Fellows Program are encouraged to apply throughout the year. Contact Nora Silver by e-mail at Silver@haas.berkeley.edu or call 510.642.1625.
Haas for Students
Haas for Students is a matching fund for nonprofit student interships. Haas students donate a date of pay to support their fellow classmates in nonprofit summer internships. During 2006-2007, Haas for Students raised over $60,000 in Fellowship Awards to support twelve of their classmates! Haas for Students Fellows intern at innovative organizations such as La Vida Education, Lenders for Community Development, and Grid Alternatives.
Challenge for Charity
The MBA Challenge for Charity is a 501(c)(3) organization created to demonstrate the shared commitment to active community involvement of MBA students through a year of fundraising efforts culminating in an exciting weekend of athletic competition and social events. The business schools of Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine and University of Washington participate in developing their own fund-raising campaigns to raise money for local, state and international chapters of Special Olympics.
MBAA Service Functions
The MBAA VP for Community Service organizes service functions through which students have the opportunity to become involved with the local Bay Area community. Volunteers work with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Project Open Hand. The MBAA also sponsors a food drive benefiting the Alameda County Food Bank.
Young Entrepreneurs at Haas
YEAH is a year-long program that matches urban high school students from Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond with Haas MBA student mentors. After an intensive two-week summer business workshop, the high school participants work one-on-one with an MBA mentor to develop an effective business plan. At the end of the school year, aspiring young entrepreneurs present their business ideas to a community venture capital board and compete for up to $500 to start their business.
