John,

2020 was a tough year. Despite incredibly hard decisions and ugly threats, I know my burden has been lighter than many. This year didn’t pan out like any of us wanted or imagined. It required compassion, strength, and a lot of Michigan grit.

Throughout this crisis, the people of Michigan have harnessed the strength, empathy, and grit that makes us who we are as Michiganders.

The state of our state is resilient.

I have a lot planned for the path forward, but first, I’m going to ask you to recommit yourself alongside us. Will you help us continue to make progress here in Michigan by donating $10 today?

In the spring, we followed the guidance of public health experts. We took a fact-based approach to eliminating this virus. And we flattened the curve together, saving countless lives.

Businesses stepped up and retooled their machinery to manufacture hand sanitizer, gloves, face shields, and ventilators. Our frontline workers in our hospitals, grocery stores, child care centers, and more put their lives on the line to protect our families.

In the midst of the worst public health crisis we have seen in our lifetimes, we showed the world just how tough Michiganders are.

This past year, we confronted multiple crises -- a global pandemic, an accompanying recession, a 500-year flooding event in Midland, a nationwide call to action to end the deep racial inequities ingrained in our society, and a deeply divisive election. We took action together, and we got a lot done.

• I signed two bipartisan budgets -- balanced budgets that prioritized public schools, public safety, and public health.
• We worked together to fund the bipartisan Michigan Reconnect Program, which provides tuition-free job training and community college for adults looking to earn a postsecondary certificate or associate degree.
• I created Futures for Frontliners -- a program that provides tuition-free postsecondary education opportunities for the heroes on the front lines of the pandemic.
• I signed historic, bipartisan Clean Slate Legislation making our criminal justice system more fair.
• And we’ve sent much-needed relief to small businesses to keep our economy humming.

I know you’re used to me saying, “fix the damn roads.”

This year is about fixing the damn road ahead – finding common ground to grow our economy and get families and businesses back on their feet. That starts by ending the pandemic, and continuing the progress we’ve made so far.

I’m committed to working night and day to keep Michigan moving forward, and I want you right beside me as we get it done. Will you chip in $10 before the night ends, and show that we are committed to the future of our state?

One of my number one priorities this year will be creating more great Michigan jobs for Michigan workers. And it will take all of us working together to get it done.

Today, I kicked off the Michigan Back to Work program to help us grow our economy and get Michiganders back on their feet. Every week going forward, we’ll announce projects big and small -- from business development to mobility and manufacturing, clean energy and road construction.

We still have a lot of work to do -- to join forces to end the pandemic and grow our economy.

Yet we know the deep divisions in our country are present here in Michigan too.

That’s why I will launch the “Fixing the Damn Road Ahead” tour to engage with and learn from Michigan voters -- whether they’re Democrats, Republicans, or Independents.

My mission is to better understand your needs, and how I can find common ground to help you and your family.

We can and will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.

I’m ready to recommit to the strong bipartisan action we took last year to grow our economy and get our state back on track. Can I count on you to support the work my administration has done and will continue to do by pitching in $10 today?

Let’s get it done,

Gretchen Whitmer