If you are reading this blog, there’s a good chance that you have generously donated to PRI, attended one of our recent events, or shared our research with your friends and colleagues. Our work would not be possible without the support of individuals who share our vision of a free society where individuals can achieve their full potential. We are tremendously grateful to those who have joined us in the fight for common-sense, market-driven policies that fulfill our mission to champion freedom, opportunity, and personal responsibility for all Americans.
We hope you’ll support PRI and stand with us on this #GivingTuesday as we work to educate the public, formulate free-market policy proposals, and set an alternative media narrative to underscore the importance of freedom in California and across the nation. We remain committed to promoting innovative solutions to reduce health care costs and increase access to care, expand educational opportunities for students, and promote pro-growth fiscal policy reforms to empower entrepreneurs and restore upward economic mobility.
This has been an incredibly busy year at PRI. To date in 2018, we have:
- Published 487 op-eds in local, state, and national newspapers, magazines, and journals;
- Received 2,497 media citations;
- Shared our message with the public through 131 radio interviews;
- Made 46 television appearances;
- Released 47 Podcasts; and
- Published 251 blog posts.
All of this work has been in the service of a simple message: Limited government, low taxes, and free enterprise will produce a booming economy for California and the nation; more government programs, more taxing, and more spending will continue to drag us down. As we look toward our 40th Anniversary in 2019, we hope that we can continue to count on your support as we roll out several new high-impact initiatives and major events.
If you have already made a #GivingTuesday donation to PRI (and you did not go overboard celebrating Black Friday and Cyber Monday!), I would encourage you to consider making a contribution to one of the worthy charities below.
MVAT Foundation and Heroes Linked: The MVAT (Military and Veterans Appreciation Trust) Foundation is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit whose mission is to support American veterans, their families, and the broader veteran community through impactful programs and grants to high-performing veterans service organizations. The Foundation helps veterans prepare for successful post-military careers through its Heroes Linked program, an online resource that gives veterans access to one-on-one professional development mentoring with private sector professionals. The program, which is also available at no cost to transitioning service members and military spouses, assists advisees with creating meaningful relationships and establishing a professional network—which is critical for career development. They are always looking for new advisors (veterans and non-veterans alike). For more information on how to get involved, click here.
Sound Body Sound Mind Foundation: According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 42 percent of children in the county are obese or overweight. Obesity rates are particularly high in low-income and minority communities where access to outdoor space and recreational facilities is limited. Sound Body Sound Mind, a UCLA Health-based program, works to address this issue by providing grants for state-of-the-art fitness programs, curriculum, and professional development training for Los Angeles area schools. Since opening its first center in 1998, the program has impacted more than 750,000 students. For more information on how to get involved, click here.
Non-Profit Anti-Poverty Programs: Earlier this year, PRI released Good Intentions, a report by California Fellow Kerry Jackson that demonstrated how private charities do a better job of alleviating poverty than public programs. In the publication, Jackson profiled several California-based organizations that are working to help turn people’s lives around. They include Father Joe’s Villages (San Diego),Saint John’s Program for Real Change (Sacramento), Solutions for Change (Vista), and Working Wardrobes (Orange County). These are terrific organizations that provide essential services to individuals in need and are worthy of support.
Ben Smithwick is Vice President of Development for the Pacific Research Institute. Prior to joining PRI, he worked at Fox News Channel’s Los Angeles bureau and for the Santa Barbara News-Press.
