Peter E. Haas Public Service Award


Mrs. Peter E. Haas established the Haas Public Service Award on her husband’s 80th birthday. A counterpart to the Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award, which recognizes distinguished Berkeley alums overseas, it honors those whose commitment to their community exemplifies the university’s mission to serve the public good.

Criteria

The Peter E. Haas Public Service Award recognizes a UC Berkeley alum who has made significant and impactful contributions to the betterment of society within the United States through volunteering. It includes four major categories — community/social service, healthcare, the environment, and education — and especially acknowledges grassroots activities that illustrate the broad impact one individual can have in inspiring creative social change across communities.

Award

The winner receives $30,000, an engraved medallion, and an additional $30,000 to be donated to a nonprofit organization of their choice. The 2025 award will be presented at the commencement ceremony on campus on May 17, 2025. The recipient is asked to speak about the value of public service to Berkeley students and faculty.

Eligibility Requirements

Alums who attended the university for at least three quarters and who live in the United States are eligible for the Haas Public Service Award. A Berkeley degree is not required. Nominees should be nominated for volunteer work that is performed that is in addition to their livelihood or place of employment.

Learn more about Peter E. Haas

Past Recipients

2025 Recipient

Cindy Wu

Cindy Wu ’03 (2025, Community) is a recognized leader in community development, working to advance equity through collaboration. She is currently the CEO of Our Neighborhoods Capital Fund, an innovative community loan fund dedicated to preserving and strengthening AAPI neighborhoods.

Previously, as the senior executive director of LISC’s Bay Area office, she oversaw the investment of over $400 million to build affordable housing for 12,000 people in the region, as part of the Partnership for the Bay’s Future.

Cindy also worked for over a decade in San Francisco’s Chinatown. As the deputy director and community planning manager at the Chinatown Community Development Center, she oversaw affordable housing development, property management, and internal operations through a period of growth. She also worked alongside residents to advocate for their neighborhood and attracted more than $45 million in neighborhood capital improvements. This was also the time period in which Cindy did most of her volunteerism.

She is a pragmatic problem-solver and holds a deep commitment to community-centered decision-making by residents and other leaders to determine their own fate for their neighborhoods.

Cindy has been a member of the San Francisco Planning Commission, including serving as its president. She holds a master’s degree in city planning from MIT and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from UC Berkeley.