Dear John,

Every Thanksgiving, I make a point to read George Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation. This year, one portion stood out to me:

“That we may then all unite in rendering unto [God] our sincere and humble thanks...for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness...for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge.”

Washington knew that “acquiring and diffusing” knowledge about why and how America was founded was vital for the United States to maintain the blessings of liberty.

These truths weren’t created in 1776 or at the Constitutional Convention. They’re the fruits of Western Civilization. This Western tradition is the root of our American order . . . and it’s being threatened like never before.

Today, students aren’t taught about the glorious history of liberty and prosperity that built our nation. In fact, they’re taught to resent it...

But ISI is taking a stand to restore learning and leadership to American universities through our Roots of American Renewal Campaign—a $75 million initiative to give students access to the education they’ve been denied—a real higher education.

With your help the Roots of American Renewal Campaign will establish ISI as America’s Counter-University—the place that fills the void for future leaders trapped in a broken higher education system.

And right now, any gift you make before December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar—thanks to a generous ISI donor—by our $500,000 American Renewal Matching Challenge Fund to expand ISI’s Counter-University campus. But hurry, this matching opportunity ends after December 31st Please give today to make your support for ISI go twice as far!

If you agree with George Washington’s call to cherish the truths of the American Founding and the Western tradition, I encourage you to give today.

Sincerely,

Johnny Burtka
ISI President and CEO