Hi John,
Two years ago, our son Joaquin was shot and killed in the hallway at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. He was just 17 years old.
Joaquin was a protector. As a teenager, he was already the kind of person who would fight to make the world a better place for everyone. And he was persistent. He never gave up on something he believed in. So we decided to follow his lead. We decided we would do everything in our power to make sure no other family has to live with the pain and loss that ours has.
That’s why we started Change the Ref, an organization that uses art as a form of communication to raise awareness about gun violence and counter the influence of the NRA. With Change the Ref, we have travelled across the country to share our work and meet with gun violence survivors, elected officials, and leaders of the gun violence prevention movement.
Last summer, we came to Seattle, where we heard firsthand about the incredible work of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. The Alliance has served as an example for organizations around the country of what it takes to make a difference in the fight to end gun violence. We are proud to work alongside them for a better future.
As our country faces the dual threat of gun violence and coronavirus, the need for strong leadership is more urgent than ever. We will be joining the Alliance for a panel discussion about COVID-19 and gun violence on June 1st. You can RSVP here.
None of this will bring our son back. But we learned from Joaquin that we all have a part to play in making the world a better place. Please do your part by making a donation to prevent gun violence today.
Thank you,
Manny & Patricia Oliver
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
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