The RFC made its first awards on May 10th, 1991. Two grants, each for $402.50, enabled two children of a political prisoner to attend summer camp. Leaping ahead, during the last three years the RFC made awards totaling more than $1,100,000 to help hundreds of children whose parents have been targeted because they are Iraq war resisters, anti-racism activists, environmentalists, pacifists, union organizers, political prisoners, and activists in other progressive struggles.
During our first decade our progress felt painfully slow, but in retrospect we expanded the size and scope of our project rapidly. At first we only provided grants to children under 19 years old whose parents were “targeted activists.” In 1993, we inaugurated our Carry it Forward award for young adults aged 18 to 24. In 1995, we initiated our Prison Visit program to enable the children of political prisoners to see their incarcerated parents. In 1999, we started a new Gathering program with our first Carry it Forward event. In 2000, we began supporting targeted activist youth and also initiated a one-time, Special Travel award for beneficiaries between the ages of 18 and 24. Finally, during our second decade, we started bringing together activists and their children for Family Gatherings.
In our first 20 years we staged seven major events in Northampton, MA; New York City; Berkeley; and Boston that were attended by over 13,000 people. I am particularly proud of the RFC’s dramatic program, Celebrate the Children of Resistance, created by my wife Elli Meeropol.
The success of the RFC has surpassed my expectations. Not surprisingly, the last 20 years have been the most fulfilling of my work life. I only wish I could say the same about the political climate, especially in the last decade. I am hopeful that the horrific repression of the post-9/11 period will abate. But that era’s legacy remains with us to this day. We also know the risks still faced by anyone who stands against the right-wing agenda.
As we start our third decade, the RFC has over 10,000 supporters nationwide, and I want every RFC donor who reads this to know how much your involvement means to the families we support. Activist adults and even their children have told me that as important as our financial help is, the knowledge that the RFC community of thousands stands behind them is an even greater comfort and inspiration.
As we prepare for a new generation of leadership at the RFC, I am proud that my daughter Jenn, who will write a guest column in this space in our next newsletter, is waiting in the wings. I am also confident that we will remain a resource for all progressive movements. And with the backing of our community, the Rosenberg Fund for Children will continue to make a unique contribution to building the more just and humane society these movements are working to achieve.