Appeal
Dear friends, donors, volunteers and partners,
It takes unusual and sophisticated people to understand the difference between the work of systemic change that the Center for Economic Integrity (CEI) does and directly serving people in need as most nonprofits do. We advocate for change that protects and strengthens whole communities, rather than one person at a time.
Your support has sustained the Center for Economic Integrity — our vision and mission and your passion for social and economic justice — as we have addressed the long-term, deep causes of poverty: public policies that are inequitable and unjust. Investment in policy change often does not pay off immediately; it is an investment in the future, requiring a long view and optimism. We and you have both.
CEI’s policy advocacy improves the lives of people who are hurt every day by corporate self-interest, political ignorance, greed, and the failure of government oversight and regulation. We protect minority, poor and moderate-income workers today — and also tomorrow — through policy change that ends usurious interest rates on loans targeted at them. We help parents and kids today — and tomorrow — access the high-quality early childhood education that every child, rich, poor or middle class, should have. We ensure that families today — and tomorrow — receive the help they need to raise healthy, successful children when their parents cannot.
|
|
|
In 2019 CEI received this award "given to honor local 501(c)3 nonprofit community organizations that are working towards improving the well-being of children, youth, families, and community" in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Frances McClelland Institute.
|
|
|
CEI’s income, like most nonprofits, relies on both individual donations and grants. Many granting agencies don’t understand or are afraid to support policy and advocacy, preferring to fund less controversial day-to-day services. Government and corporations are usually the targets of our work, so we avoid financial relations with them even for our service work. Consequently, your donations — those of you who are not afraid of the fray and understand that the work we do today changes lives in the future — are more important than ever.
Our work demands a long-term commitment, and we have been at it for twenty years. Please help us to continue the work of our small but mighty organization by increasing your financial support of CEI this year. We have had many successes, and there is much work left to do to accomplish the mission: building economically strong communities for all.
|
|
|
|
CEI has been advocating for the past five years for public funding for preschool scholarships here in Tucson and Pima County. This spring, the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved funding for Pima Early Education Program Scholarships (PEEPs). CEI helped lead this community wide effort so that up 1,200 children in our community will be able to attend high quality preschool this fiscal year. These scholarships help working families as part of the COVID-19 economic recovery and most importantly, provide opportunities for young children to grow, learn and ultimately succeed in school and later in life.
|
|
|
Thanks to AZGA advocacy efforts this past legislative session along with all kinship families who have advocated on behalf of their families these many years -- The Governor's Office and the Department of Economic Security authorized a one-time payment of $1,800 per child for eligible unlicensed kinship families. The Governor and DCS Director Faust will be using pandemic relief funds totaling over $9 million dollars to provide this one-time financial support payment to kinship families.
|
|
For more in-depth information on project and issue areas where CEI provides leadership please visit:
|
|
|
www.thepreschoolpromise.org | The Preschool Promise is a broad movement to ensure that all children have access to High Quality Early Childhood Education
|
|
|
www.nomoreloansharksaz.org | Arizonans for Responsible Lending is a state-wide consumer coalition comprised of individuals, nonprofit organizations, faith and business community leaders
|
|
|
www.azga.org | AZGA is a statewide support and legislative advocacy network of, by and for grandparents raising grandchildren and non-parent caregivers raising children
|
|
|
www.economicintegrity.org | The Center for Economic Integrity main website
|
|
|
|
We could not do this work without your financial support.
Thank you for your end of the year contribution.
With gratitude and solidarity,
|
|
|
Please note: As a 501(c)3 nonprofit your contribution is fully tax deductible
If you would prefer to make a donation by check, please make your check out to "Center for Economic Integrity" and mail it to the following address.
Southwest Center for Economic Integrity
509 E. Radburn St.
Tucson, AZ 85704
|
|
|
|
|
