Children’s Futures are at Risk Right Now

Children’s futures are at risk each day that key decisions are delayed by partisan wrangling in this “lame duck” session of Congress. Tax cuts for individuals with incomes under $200,000 and families under $250,000 should be extended, as President Obama proposes to do. This will assist 98 percent of tax filers and help jumpstart the economy since those benefiting will likely spend what they receive.

With 15.5 million children living in poverty, there is no rational or sensible argument for spending an additional $68 billion a year, $700 billion over ten years, to reward the very richest people with an average tax cut of more than $310,000. These multimillionaires, with average incomes of $6 million, saw their fortunes grow enormously these last several years while millions of children and families fell backwards. Important gains could be made for children with this $700 billion. President Obama’s original proposal should move forward.

Congress also must act to extend improvements in the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit which would help low income families who are struggling to survive during these tough economic times. Congress also needs to extend unemployment insurance benefits, which expired on November 30, jeopardizing the future of unemployed families with children.

The Senate needs to stop playing politics with our children and grandchildren’s future and needs to provide a world safe from nuclear weapons. They should ratify the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty signed by President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia earlier this year. The START treaty is the most comprehensive arms control agreement in more than two decades.

Please contact your Senators and Representatives—dial (202) 224-3121—and ask them to protect children’s futures in this lame duck congressional session by not continuing the Bush tax cuts scheduled to expire at the end of this year for the richest two percent of taxpayers. The richest Americans have already had more than their fair share. Also ask that they help maintain extra supports for struggling low income children and families by extending unemployment insurance benefits and improvements in the Child and Earned Income Tax Credits. These investments make an enormous difference in the lives of millions of children. And finally, urge them to take action to ratify the START Treaty to keep our children and grandchildren safe from nuclear weapons.

Black Community Crusade for Children II: A Call to Urgent and Sustained Action

Later this month, CDF will host a critical meeting of Black community leaders to address the ominous clouds encircling Black children and youth whose life chances are less positive than their parents and White peers. “The toxic cocktail of poverty, illiteracy, racial disparities, violence and massive incarceration is sentencing millions of children to dead end, powerless and hopeless lives and threatens to undermine the past half century of racial and social progress,” Marian Wright Edelman said.

The meeting, to take place at CDF Haley Farm later this month, will provide a forum for Black leaders to share and discuss plans to launch the second Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC) II on the 20th anniversary of the launch of the first BCCC to Leave No Child Behind^TM. The participants will represent many different disciplines, skills, and gifts and the extraordinary power within the Black community to make the impossible possible when necessary.

CDF President Testifies on the Hill

On November 18th, Marian Wright Edelman joined actress and child advocate Jennifer Garner and other distinguished panelists to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on “The State of the American Child: Securing Our Children’s Future.” The hearing, the last for retiring Subcommittee Chairman, Senator Christopher Dodd, was an opportunity for Mrs. Edelman and other witnesses to express their appreciation to Senator Dodd for all he has accomplished for children in his 30 years of leadership in the Senate. Mrs. Edelman called for emergency attention to the millions of children in our recession ravaged economy as poverty, including extreme child poverty, hunger, and homelessness have increased to historic levels, if irreparable harm is not be inflicted on them and on our nation’s future. Read Mrs. Edelman’s written statement and watch the video of her testimony before the committee.

CDF Awards Extraordinary Youths with Scholarships

CDF–California will hold its 20th Annual Los Angeles Beat the Odds® ceremony on December 2 at the Beverly Hills Hotel where CDF board member Reese Witherspoon will be joined by others to honor this year’s star young people. Learn more about this event and the upcoming CDF–New York Beat the Odds ceremony scheduled for December 6, on our web site.

On November 9, at the 2010 Beat the Odds Awards Dinner, CDF honored five outstanding Washington, D.C. area students—Asia Smith, Arianna McQuillan, Chelsea Kraatz, I’eisha Williams and Nick Mugge—who have demonstrated academic excellence and have the strength and determination to “beat the odds.” The awards ceremony was held at the Harman Center for the Arts in downtown Washington and was hosted by CDF board member Ali Wentworth. CDF presented each of the honorees with a $10,000 scholarship. View photos from the event and watch video stories of the winners on our web site.

CDF names Patti Hassler Vice President of Communications and Outreach

Patti Hassler joins CDF with a long and very distinguished career with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, the most watched newsmagazine in the nation. While at 60 Minutes, Hassler was executive editor when it won numerous Emmys and other top journalism awards. Hassler joins CDF at a critical time for children and will work to enhance the impact and reach of CDF. She brings her vast experience in storytelling to help frame the national debate about what our children need and to amplify our supporters’ voices demanding that children become the nation’s top priority.

Learn more about CDF’s leadership and staff.

Bundle Up with a CDF Hooded Sweatshirt

Our new CDF logo hooded sweatshirts are brilliant with their purple full–sized logos in adult and youth sizes, or a logo placed in the upper left for adults sizes up to triple extra large. The 50/50 blended fabric is soft and breathable, pocketed in the front, and with a pull string hood. Order for yourself and for other CDF supporters at our Online Store.