Dear Friend,

There’s no question that 2022 has been a difficult year.

While we celebrated significant wins, inflation is still hovering around 8% as corporations continue to rake in record profits.(1) Some of the nation's largest companies, many based right here in California, are laying off thousands of people.(2) We are in the middle of a surge of coronavirus, flu, and RSV cases.

Courage California has taken a hit during these hardships. Fundraising has dipped as people have struggled with skyrocketing prices, and several large donors had to cut back.

As we look at our 2023 budget, we are remembering that there are so many fights for a more equitable and just society that we are facing in the upcoming year. We need to start January on the strongest possible footing, which is why I’m writing you today.

Will you make a year-end donation to Courage California and help support our most critical goals in the upcoming year?

Most of our funding comes from people like you, who care about issues like workers’ rights, climate change, and out-of-control health care costs.

In order to continue to fight for these issues, we keep our overhead cost as low as possible, working with a small team in a virtual setting. That’s how we’ve been able to achieve big things -- like helping to reelect Katie Porter, pass legislation to stop Amazon from abusing its workers, and hold legislators accountable with our Courage Score -- on the thinnest budget possible.

And in the upcoming year, we have major campaigns that we can’t afford to lose:

• We need to pressure President Biden to nominate two members to the USPS Board of Governors who will finally get rid of Louis DeJoy and stop the destruction of the post office.
• We are pushing for stronger worker protections, as laborers are in the middle of massive union fights with Amazon, the University of California system, and other powerhouses.
• We are fighting for our very democracy in the push to defund Fox “News” and stop the disinformation that is tearing our society apart.
• We are supporting partners like Black Women for Wellness and California Environmental Voters to advocate for people-first policy.

As it stands now, our budget can’t fund all of this important work. Without your help, I will have to make tough decisions about which we need to cut -- and I know you care about them all. Please give right now to ensure that we can continue fighting for a more progressive California and country in 2023.

Will you make a year-end donation to Courage California today?

–Irene, along with Angela, Annie, Isidra, Lindsay, LisaMarie, Mai, Mai, Raquel, and Scottie (the Courage team) 

PS: Courage California is fighting for equity and justice across the state and country. Will you become a monthly donor and help sustain our work?

Donations go to support all of Courage California's work for a more progressive California and country. Follow us now on Facebook or Twitter!

Footnotes:
1. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/10/heres-the-inflation-breakdown-for-october-2022-in-one-chart.html
2. https://news.stanford.edu/2022/12/05/explains-recent-tech-layoffs-worried/