Are you proud to be an American citizen?

If you’re like me, you give thanks to God every day that you live in a country that is free, peaceful, and where citizens have inalienable rights. Most people in history can’t say the same thing—in fact, most people in the world can’t say the same thing even today.

You don’t have to be a historian to see that the long practice of citizenship in America is unprecedented. It’s one of our nation’s great achievements.

But there’s a catch—citizenship requires vigilance and knowledge to maintain.

Especially now, when it faces threats from the far-Left and progressive economic policies, illegal immigration, and more. Everyone who wishes to defend freedom in America requires an understanding of the nature and scope of these challenges.

And as a college, we know that a proper education is the best defense of liberty.

That’s why today I hope you’ll support our Project to Defend Liberty Nationwide by Reaching and Teaching Millions.

This ambitious and extensive project has three main goals.

• The first important goal of this campaign is to inform debates about the critical issues of our time through We must add hundreds of thousands more subscribers in 2022!
• The second vital goal is to teach millions of citizens about the Constitution, American history, and free-market economics through free online courses.
• The third critical goal is restoring excellence to K-12 education in America through our expanded Hillsdale K–12 Education Office and new Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum.

And unlike the vast majority of colleges and universities, we must reach and teach millions of Americans about liberty. And we have to do it without taking ONE PENNY of government funding—not even indirectly in the form of student grants and loans.

NOT. ONE. PENNY—to remain proudly independent. This means that your support is critical to our success.

With your help, we’ll engage the far-Left on the battlefield of education. With your help, we will defend liberty against dangerous ideologies. And with your help, we will preserve freedom for future generations of American citizens.

We urgently need your support, because, to implement the Project to Defend Liberty Nationwide by Reaching and Teaching Millions fully, we need to raise $1.5 million in the next few months.

You can give safely and securely at this link: https://secured.hillsdale.edu/hillsdale/support-citizenship-and-defend-liberty

And for a gift of $100 or more, you’ll receive a special hardcover edition of Victor Davis Hanson’s latest book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America. Victor Davis Hanson is a frequent commentator on Fox News and online. He’s also a historian and distinguished fellow here at Hillsdale.

Regarding the book, my boss and teacher, Hillsdale President Larry P. Arnn, has written, “In this book, Hanson demonstrates yet again his command across time and for our time. This book and he are a treasure.”

Thank you so much for your partnership in promoting the kind of intelligent patriotism—especially among younger Americans—that is essential to preserving citizenship and free government.

Warm regards,

Bill Gray

Class of 2001

Associate Vice President of National Donor Outreach

Hillsdale College