March 2, 2007

Re:  A Farmworker Justice Challenge Grant:  Help Us Meet This Challenge

Dear Friend,

The 2007 Farm Bill debate is now heating up in Congress. This must-pass legislation provides us with an opportunity to secure major new protections from toxic pesticides for farmworkers, wildlife and the environment.

To enable Farmworker Justice to fight for the rights of migrant workers in the Farm Bill, an individual donor has issued us a $75,000 challenge grant.  To get this support, we must raise an additional $75,000 from other sources.  We seek your help in meeting this challenge by March 31, 2007.

Congress will enact a new Farm Bill in late 2007, as it does every five years, and chart a new course for agriculture regarding: grower subsidies, environmental conservation, international trade, research priorities and other major programs and policies.  Migrant farmworkers and their advocates want to seize this opportunity to secure much needed reforms to improve safety in the workplace, prevent environmental degradation and secure funds for research on farmworker health and safety. 

Several factors combine to make this is a propitious moment to secure needed change. They include: the increasing influence of the Latino community and the growing coalition of environmental, anti-hunger, anti-tax, and other groups that want to reduce farm subsidies for major commodity growers and redirect that funding to better meet farmworker and community needs.  This policy-change opportunity will remain open only for a short time.  We helped farmworkers win pesticide protections in a Farm Bill before and hope to build on that success to do so again.

With your support, we will be able to engage in extensive public education and advocacy.  Without this funding, we do not have the staff or other resources to create a serious campaign. Your donations are tax-deductible, will be met dollar for dollar by our challenge grant and will advance safety and justice for farmworkers nationwide.

You may use the attached pledge form to make a donation by check.  You may also use a credit card to make a donation online at our website, www.farmworkerjustice.org (click on the Paypal or Network for Good buttons). 

Thank you very much. 

Sincerely,

Shelley Davis

Deputy Director

FARMWORKER JUSTICE

          P.S.  Please note our new address and telephone numbers.

PLEDGE FORM

FARMWORKER JUSTICE CHALLENGE GRANT

Name  ______________________________________________________________                                   

Organization (if applicable)  _______________________________________________

Address  ____________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip _________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________________________________________________

E-mail ______________________________________________________________

PLEASE ACCEPT MY TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION OF:   

 c $5,000             c $2,500           c $1,000         c $500              c $250                c $100

 c Other $_________________

PAYMENT PLAN:                                                                             

c   I will pay the total pledge today.

c      I will make payments on the pledge of $_________ Every Quarter _________(Minimum $100.00 pledge)       

c   I will pay the total pledge by ___________(date).                              

PAYMENT:

q       My check is enclosed.

q       Invoice me.

q       My company has a matching gift program.

q       I will pay by credit card online at your website, www.farmworkerjustice.org, using Paypal or Network for Good.

Thank you very much.  All donations will be acknowledged by letter.  For further information, please contact Office Manager Lorna Baez at 202-293-5420 or lbaez@....  Our fax is (202) 293-5427.

Farmworker Justice