Dear John, As the COVID-19 crisis escalates again with the delta and omicron variants, we are facing another deadly crisis--continued record-breaking levels of gun violence, which is devastating families all across our state. But, the activism of our supporters gives us hope and motivates us. This year, despite all of the challenges, WAVE activists advocated for extreme risk protection orders (ERPO), background checks, and funding for community-based gun violence intervention and prevention programs (CVI) (e.g., street interruption and hospital-based intervention); pushed back against the gun lobby extremists; and attended virtual events, including our Citizen Day of Action (aka lobby day)! We saw a lot of success! - The Wisconsin legislature introduced ERPO and background check bills
- The Wisconsin legislature did not pass any extreme gun lobby bills into law.
- Governor Evers allocated $45 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for CVI and victims' assistance.
- WAVE's Day of Action to Prevent Gun Violence was powerful and well-attended.
But there is so much more we need to do.
That's why I'm excited to tell you this. This holiday season is the perfect time for you to show your support for all of our work because a small group of WAVE's generous friends established a special fund to match every contribution made between now and the end of the year, up to $25,000! That means that every dollar you donate will go twice as far in supporting our critical programs, including our summer youth internship, which engages and empowers young people in Wisconsin. There has never been a better time to show you believe in keeping our families, friends, and communities safe. Our matching donors will match your donation, dollar-for-dollar, so please give generously. WAVE is, and always will be, a grassroots organization powered by our volunteers and supporters like you. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our volunteer activists from across Wisconsin inspires us and gives us the determination and endurance to work even more vigorously. We have you by our side, and, together, we will succeed in preventing gun violence and making our communities safer. When that story is told, you're going to want to have played a role. Please join us! With Gratitude,
Jeri |
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