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Dear John,

Our hearts have been heavy as we process our sadness and outrage following the horrific killing of George Floyd. We grieve for those in the Black community who have lost their lives, their loved ones, their innocence, their dignity, and their opportunity in life as a result of prejudice and discrimination. We denounce violence perpetrated against Black people and communities of color, and other unjust deaths at the hands of those with privilege and power.

It has been two weeks since the tragic violence that took George Floyd’s life, and a week since our team observed Blackout Tuesday in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. But sadly, the issues surfaced in recent days are not new. Racism has been entrenched for decades, going back to the founding of our nation. However, recent events provide painful reminders about the vital need to uplift voices that represent diverse perspectives to take down constructs that perpetuate inequality. Only when these voices are heard and those who carry them are in positions of influence will we eradicate systemic racism.

For decades, Fulfillment Fund has been working tirelessly to achieve this goal. Supporting disenfranchised students to access a college education has been the medium for the change we want to see in the world. We aim for our students to fill the ranks of government, boardrooms, and standing at podiums, challenging and dismantling laws, policies and practices that perpetuate inequality and discrimination. We also aim to empower them to challenge racist behaviors and sentiments, whether it’s in uniform or as a civilian.

There are tremendous changes we need to make to eradicate systems and policies that oppress Black people, inflict hardship on communities of color, and perpetuate racial violence and intolerance. That we have been steadfast in our convictions of equity and inclusion now seem inadequate; we must be proactively anti-racist, or we can never be the community we strive to be. Whether it’s joining advocacy efforts around biased standardized testing practices or engaging in uncomfortable conversations dealing with race, we commit to doing even more to be allies to the Black community and communities of color.

Our mission to support students in forging forward on their educational pathway is just one way we contribute toward tearing down systemic racism and while we know we cannot solve all of the problems of the world, we remain honored to have the responsibility to do our part to instill justice and eradicate hate.

In solidarity,























Wendy Spinner Joanne Reyes, MA
Chair, Board of Directors President









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