"Join Us For National Day Of Civic Hacking 9/23"

Foundations Unite to Oppose Immigration Executive Orders This statement was originally published by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR).  Statement The United States stands at a historical crossroads. Founded as a refuge from religious persecution and built by generations of immigrants, our country has been the standard bearer internationally for the assertion and protection of inalienable rights and freedoms, a beacon of hope for refugees facing oppression and persecution, and a land of opportunity for immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families. As philanthropic institutions, we have built our missions on this proud and rich tradition. We have invested in creating healthy communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, building a vibrant democracy, and advancing equity and equality for all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, immigration status, and national origin. The recently issued immigration executive orders compromise our nation’s founding principles and the Constitution, our standing in the world, and our core values of liberty, justice, and due process. They weaken our moral leadership, fuel the efforts of those who wish us ill, harm our global competitiveness, and fray our social fabric. Our foundations support diverse issues, strategies, and communities across the country, but we are united in the belief that immigrants and refugees are integral to every aspect of our society. Newcomers enrich our culture and tradition as artists, playwrights, and dancers. Naturalized citizens strengthen our civic life as voters, jurors, school-board members, and elected officials. Immigrant entrepreneurs and refugee-owned businesses revitalize neighborhoods, towns, and cities across America. Foreign-born scientists and engineers fuel innovations and help our country prosper. Farmworkers put food on our tables, and caregivers nurture our children, care for our elders, and nurse our ill. Young newcomers—including DACA beneficiaries—demonstrate their patriotism and enthusiasm for American ideals in schools, communities, workplaces, and the armed forces. Without the contributions of immigrants and refugees now and throughout our history, our collective wellbeing and economic vitality would be greatly diminished. We, the undersigned philanthropies, join public officials, the faith community, business leaders, and the American public in supporting policies that protect our national security, strengthen our economy, and uphold core American values. We stand with our grantees—advocates, organizers, researchers, and service providers—in calling for policies that reflect our nation’s founding principles, promote cohesion and inclusion, instill hope, and show compassion. Policies that recognize our global interdependence, that honor our tradition of welcoming those seeking refuge and a better life, and that keep families together will make our communities stronger, safer, and more prosperous. We expect additional challenges in the weeks and months ahead on the immigration front, including expanded detention and deportations, and on policies affecting the rights of women, African Americans, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable groups. The issues, communities, and core values that our foundations have sought to advance are under serious and imminent danger. With history and morality as our guide, we reject discriminatory policies that target individuals based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender expression, and other grounds. We stand committed to the inherent value and dignity of every person at home and abroad. We stand together for the American Dream. Signatories Lateefah Simon, President Akonadi Foundation Iris Krieg, Executive Director Albert Pick, Jr. Fund Eileen Coogan, President & CEO Allegany Franciscan Ministries Minna R. Buck, Founder Aloha Foundation Leticia Peguero, Executive Director Andrus Family Fund & Family Philanthropy Program Audrey Yamamoto, President & Executive Director Asian Pacific Fund Jim Canales, President & Trustee Barr Foundation Robert C. Kirkwood, Board Chair Bella Vista Foundation Jerry Greenfield, President Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Cecilia C. Clarke, President & CEO Brooklyn Community Foundation Sonia Gonzales, Executive Director California Bar Foundation Antonia Hernández, President & CEO California Community Foundation Geri Mannion, Director, Strengthening Democracy Program and Special Opportunities Fund Carnegie Corporation of New York Hussien Y. Shousher, Board Chair Center for Arab American Philanthropy Karen A. Simmons, President & CEO Chester County Community Foundation K. Sujata, President & CEO Chicago Foundation for Women Farhad Ebrahimi, Founder & Chair Chorus Foundation Mary Pounder, Program Director Comer Family Foundation Laura Livoti, CEO Common Counsel Foundation Laura Livoti, CEO Common Counsel Foundation Ellen Friedman, Executive Director Compton Foundation Leslie Ramyk, Executive Director Conant Family Foundation Yanique Redwood, President & CEO Consumer Health Foundation Elizabeth Sak, Executive Director Cricket Island Foundation Joe Goldman, President Democracy Fund Lori Bezahler, President Edward W. Hazen Foundation Jacqueline Mann, President Elias Foundation Lauren Embrey, President Embrey Family Foundation Elena M. Marks, President & CEO Episcopal Health Foundation Nicky Goren, President & CEO Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation Jennie Lehua Watson, Interim President Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund Damon T. Hewitt, Executive Director Executives’ Alliance for Boys and Men of Color Sandor Straus, President Faye Straus, Vice-President Firedoll Foundation Darren Walker, President Ford Foundation Nancy Brain, Board President Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Marnie Thompson, Co-Managing Director Ed Whitfield, Co-Managing Director Fund for Democratic Communities Marcos Vargas, Executive Director Fund for Santa Barbara Christine H. Russell, Trustee Mark Schlesinger, Trustee Susan Clark, Director of Programs Gaia Fund  Dimple Abichandani, Executive Director General Service Foundation Nancy Bales, Executive Director Nicholas Walrod, Board Chair Gray Family Foundation Vanessa Daniel, Executive Director Groundswell Fund Eva Grove, Founder & Board Member Leslie Dorosin, Executive Director Grove Foundation Darren Sandow, Executive Director Hagedorn Foundation David Nicholson, Executive Director Headwaters Foundation for Justice Liz Simons, Chair of the Board Deanna Gomby, President & CEO Heising-Simons Foundation Tricia Hellman Gibbs, MD, Board President Susan Mayer Hirsch, Executive Director Hellman Foundation Nat Williams, Ph.D, Executive Director Hill-Snowdon Foundation Diana Campoamor, President Hispanics in Philanthropy Ann B. Stern, President & CEO Houston Endowment Janet Froetscher, President J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation Peter W. Davidson, Chairman Amy L. Freitag, Executive Director J.M. Kaplan Fund John Goldman, President John & Marcia Goldman Foundation Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO ​Latino Community Foundation  Debora Ortega, Ph.d., Board Chair Carlos Martinez, Executive Director Latino Community Foundation of Colorado Kara L. Masters, Board President Caitlin W. Davis, Executive Director Legal Foundation of Washington James[…]