Kids wondering if their father will go to prison this summer for participating in a nonviolent demonstration. Young siblings staying with relatives as their dad—already struggling financially after he was fired from his job for his organizing—couch surfs while their mom self-isolates with a fever and other worrisome symptoms.

These and so many more hardships are what our beneficiary families are dealing with right now due to the COVID-19 crisis and the inept response of the federal government. The Rosenberg Fund for Children is working hard to do everything we can to support our grantees and we hope we can count on you to stand with us. All qualified families who applied for our grants this spring have been at least partially funded (a summary of our spring grants and other timely updates are available here).

While the very uncertain fundraising future meant we had to reduce our 2020 granting budget, we focused on minimizing cuts to maximize the support we were able to provide with as much equity and consistency as possible. After hearing from many grantees about the enormous additional stress and financial challenges they are facing, the RFC Board made available an emergency $200 grocery gift card for every beneficiary family who was eligible for grant funds this cycle, regardless of whether an application was submitted. We made this decision in light of these extraordinary times, acknowledging that grants for educational, creative and recreational programs cannot alone nourish hungry children.

We desperately want to return to normal granting levels this fall, but we need your support to do so. Your contribution allows us to continue to stand in solidarity with the children of harassed journalists, fired teachers, targeted union organizers, brutalized anti-racist activists, imprisoned environmentalists and so many more. At this time of great need, your support is more critical than ever, so please donate now!

I send my deep condolences to those of you who have lost loved ones or are suffering. On this 67th anniversary of my grandparents’ executions, I remain hopeful that together we will move through this crisis into whatever comes next, and ensure that those who risk their own comfort for the sake of a better tomorrow will not have done so in vain.

Thank you,

Jenn Meeropol