​​​Hi John​,

Thank you to everyone who joined us Wednesday evening to support AQE and celebrate our honorees: Senator Jabari Brisport & Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi with the New York State Senate & Assembly Committees for Children and Families; Regent Ruth Turner of the New York State Board of Regents; Tanesha Grant, Executive Director, PSPNY, Inc.; and Gladys Jones, founder of ECE on the Move.

As we reflect on this year, there is much to celebrate. We still have a long way to go to get to universal child care for all children and families, but one thing is certain — our collective power made child care a top priority in the New York State budget for the first time in history. People like you make it possible for us to continue to fight for educational opportunities for New York's children and families. 

Our honorees with AQE's Jasmine Gripper and Zakiyah Ansari

On Wednesday evening, we said thank you to some of the parents, community leaders and elected officials who are committed to this fight by our side. Contributions of individuals like you are what drive AQE’s work. If you haven’t had a chance to make your donation, it isn’t too late to give. We hope you will continue to fight with us.

We would like to thank our host committee for their support, and our co-chairs: Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, and Cynthia Nixon & Christine Marinoni. And a special thanks to our extraordinary performers: Shanelle Gabriel, Executive Director of Urban Word NYC, and youth poet Stephanie Pacheco.

There is more work ahead. We look forward to fighting — and winning — with you for the third and final installment of Foundation Aid in the coming budget, and to continue to push to make child care universal for New York’s families. 

We hope you will continue to fight with us and support the work of AQE. The fight to hold New York State to its obligation to students and families has always been deeply steeped in racial justice. We are grateful to each and every one of you for joining us to stand up for New York’s children.

In solidarity,