As the sun sets on 2017, you may be scrambling like me to round out your charitable donations for best tax advantage and to ensure that your best intentions for giving were satisfied this year. So this 2017 retrospective highlights groups of people who uphold American ideals and principles. They fight for you, for us, every day. Consider giving to them today…
Anti-Defamation League (ADL)– One of the first things my family did following the 2016 Presidential election was turn to the ADL for tools (see table talk for families) and educational material. We had started to experience bigotry and antisemitism in our community and schools close to the election and since then in ways we had not seen before (swastikas, calling kids Jews, hail Hitler gestures, signs on bathroom doors: “For Whites Only”). Our fears in November 2016 were justified as evidenced by a rise in hate crimes in 2016 (up 26%), emboldened activity by white supremacist groups (remember the Nazi salute “Hail Trump” weeks after election day, and the Charlottesville tragedy), and a president who continually re-tweets white nationalist lies and appoints white nationalist sympathizers and champions to key positions.
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)– As I broadened my knowledge of news and current events I began to notice how many people rely on the foundational work of the SPLC on issues of income inequality, racial justice, and civil rights. In addition to the their cases and programs they offer research and information of use to everyone. See, for example, their simple yet comprehensive piece tracking Hate in Trump’s White House.
Planned Parenthood – Meanwhile, the Republican Party’s continual attacks not just on health care for Americans, but specifically health care benefits for women including basic birth control, brought me to learn more about how Planned Parenthood provides vital health services for women, from cancer screenings to birth control and, yes, safe alternatives for abortions (and, no, those abortions are not funded by federal dollars). Also, Planned Parenthood does amazing grass-roots and advocacy work that ultimately lifts up all women’s issues, such as by getting women to advocacy days. We need to keep this organization strong on behalf of all women.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – The ACLU is urgently relevant in today’s political and legal climate. They ramped up in 2017 to train regular people on civil rights through PeoplePower.org. They have consistently championed free speech, including for the neo-Nazis rallying in Charlottesville (though they are adjusting their policies to avoid supporting armed demonstrators in future). And they are working to protect voting rights.
National Resource Defense Council – People I know in the EPA recommend we support national environmental organizations because the EPA is no longer positioned to protect our healthy environment now that Trump placed anti-EPA Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA. By the way, my EPA friends have been working under strained circumstances all year, so if you think you’ve got it bad at work, think again. See this Step-by-Step guide to fighting Trump’s anti-public health/environment agenda.
YMCA – Then there are American institutions like the YMCA whose mission has always been to lift people to their better selves while bridging the divides between us.
Most of these sites above are offering double or triple match on donations made today. So let’s finish the year strong and have a productive and healthy new year. Cheers!
citizenstacy.com 