“What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” said Frederick Douglass in 1852.
“What to the vulnerable and oppressed is the Fourth of July in 2025?” we might ask today… 173 years later.
On this Fourth of July, we are witnessing the likely passage of a federal budget that stands to inflict irreparable damage on people and communities across the country – by stripping away access to affordable healthcare, doing away with food for kids in schools, making it harder for schools to serve children with special needs or provide professional development for educators, further ostracizing and depleting resources that cater to immigrant/migrant and LGBTQ communities, and so much more.
On this Fourth of July, we speak against a Bill that prioritizes more tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy while directly attacking our communities, families, and futures. Just as we often say that an organization’s budget reflects its values, we are reminded that a federal budget is a manifestation of a country’s values and priorities… at least as demonstrated by those with political, executive, legislative, and judicial power.
This Independence Day, while we are far from the kind of freedom that looks like human and community flourishing all through the land, we reflect on a powerful American tradition and legacy: charitable giving. Across sectors and issues, philanthropy has fueled efforts that are necessary to alleviate challenges and help bring solutions to life.
This Independence Day, we reflect on the role of philanthropy in this moment during which we are called upon to speak truth and stand against harmful laws and decisions.
This Independence Day, we celebrate and honor the work of leaders and organizations that are resisting and building in solidarity and community… because they are clear about our shared value of love for humanity and shared goals for liberation.
This Independence Day, WCGMF is proud to stand with our partners across CT and the nation to continue that legacy by investing in efforts that build and activate community power, seek to dismantle inequitable systems, address racism and poverty as root causes, and aim to transform public education in ways that serve ALL of our children and young people well. While philanthropy alone can’t eradicate all the ills that we face, we are clear that giving connects us and moving resources where they are most needed allows us a stronger opportunity to fight and build the better democracy we deserve.
This July 4th, we honor values that unite us:
✅ Compassion
✅ Commitment
✅ Community
✅ Courage
Perhaps more than ever, we need to engage in and shape a version of philanthropy and charitable giving that reflects all four.
#UniteInAdvance