A Year-End Report from Robert Meeropol
December 16, 2009
There is nothing I dread more than telling a jailed Iraq war resister that we can’t provide therapy for his teenage son, or informing an incarcerated environmental activist that we don’t have the funds to pay for her three-year-old daughter to visit her in prison. Luckily, in 2009, I didn't have to.
I’m so proud to announce that this year the Rosenberg Fund for Children gave away a total of $354,220. We were able to give away $34,220 more than we planned because you came through under the most difficult circumstances.
But the news isn’t all good. While we were not forced to reduce our 2009 granting budget by the $80,000 we anticipated, we did reduce it by over $45,000. Many children whom we’ve been supporting for years had to make due with less than we could give them in 2008. And we were only able to provide half of what several of the six new families who joined our community this fall required.
As the year ends here is the story of one of the newest members of the RFC family.
A student at a mostly Latino high school in CA, “Miguel,” (a pseudonym), refused to accept silently the tracking of low-income youth of color into the military instead of college. He protested the presence of JROTC shooting ranges on high school campuses, that military recruiters outnumbered college counselors in schools, and the disappearance of college preparatory courses from the curriculum. Working with peace-oriented fellow students and adult activists from a variety of community based organizations, Miguel succeeded in removing the shooting ranges and ensuring the availability of a college prep curriculum in all the district’s schools.
He faced retaliation from his principal, a staunch supporter of JROTC and the shooting ranges. She even banned him from his own commencement ceremony, despite the fact that he was graduating with honors! Grants from the RFC will help Miguel, now a first year student in college, continue his education. Upon learning that his application was funded, Miguel wrote “[now more than ever] I feel motivated in the activism that I do, whether it's fighting militarization in schools or the privatization of public education.”
This is just one of six new requests we funded this fall. Many applications illustrate the increased financial urgency so many of our current beneficiaries are feeling. But we can meet this challenge if you dig deep and make an extraordinary gift now. Please help us fight our way back to the level of support we gave in 2008 and maybe even surpass it. Every extra dollar you give will also show these brave young people and families how much you and thousands like you value their resistance. We must never let them feel that they stand alone!
Your contribution is tax-deductible. I renew my pledge that 90% of the funds you contribute in response to this report will be awarded to the children and youth we are helping.
Click here to make a fast, secure donation now, or mail a check payable to the Rosenberg Fund for Children, to 116 Pleasant St., Suite 348, Easthampton, MA 01027.
The children are depending on you.
Robert Meeropol,
Executive Director