The University of California, Berkeley has announced a gift of $24 million from Bob and Colleen Haas in support of scholarships for undergraduate students, with a focus on students from underrepresented communities.

The gift includes $10 million in matching funds for the Haas Family Fiat Lux Scholarship, boosting the program's endowment to $20 million. The family also will give $14 million to permanently endow the Haas Scholars Program, which for more than twenty years has enabled Berkeley students from diverse backgrounds to focus on a year-long senior research project.

"The human capacity for greatness is not bounded by gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, income, or prior family history," said Bob Haas. "Enabling hardworking, ambitious students to realize their full potential is a source of great personal satisfaction."

"Through these generous endowments, the Haas family continues to show their deep commitment to building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive Berkeley campus," said UC Berkeley chancellor Carol Christ. "The students supported by these scholarships all have unique experiences and perspectives that will not only benefit our campus, but through their achievements, the world as a whole."

(Photo credit: Keegan Houser)