Helen Goldie Haas Scholarship

The love story of Raymond and Helen Haas is like something out of a story book. But it just happens to be true. The couple’s life together became especially meaningful to CLU because of the influence of one Borgny Baird, a Long Beach attorney.

Helen Searight was one of three daughters who lived with her parents in Council Grove, Kansas. In 1925 her parents made a trip to California and decided to stay. In Helen’s own words, Raymond Haas “followed her out to California.” The two were married in Santa Barbara when she was 20 and Raymond was 22. Their marriage lasted a lifetime.

It was Raymond’s nature to think outside the box, and in 1937 he opened a hobby shop in Long Beach. The timing was right because the shop soon took off. When the U.S. entered World War II, servicemen sought crafts and hobbies to take with them to pass the time overseas. The hobby shop was extremely successful, but Raymond also had a stock broker whose tips he followed. Until Raymond died Helen probably never had a good idea of how much the couple was worth.

After her husband’s death, Helen wisely selected Borgny Baird as her attorney. Borgny’s reputation was impeccable, and she always had the best interests of her clients at heart. As Helen prepared her estate plan, Borgny helped her to focus on those issues that meant the most to her. Helen ultimately chose to split her bequest among three nonprofits, one of which was CLC. Helen died in April 1987, leaving the University a well endowed scholarship—the Helen Goldie Haas Scholarship—designated for deserving students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Unfortunately the University never had the opportunity to know its generous benefactor before her death. Helen’s sister, Hazel, who also lived in Long Beach, later did develop a relationship with CLU and was able to meet some of the students who benefited from her sister’s generosity. While the University and scholarship recipients will never know Helen Haas personally, the Helen Goldie Haas Scholarship will continue to bless students for many years.