We believe as a family that the climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time – our way of life, and even the existence of our most vulnerable communities, are under threat. Becoming a parent made it feel even more urgent. Seeing my children grow up in a dense, transit-centered city while exploring New England coastlines and green spaces gave me a new appreciation for those beautiful spaces and motivation to protect them. 

When my children were around three and five years old, we engaged them in family philanthropy, giving everyone a voice in what organizations we would support. Environmental justice causes were at the top of this list. We created a portfolio of organizations working to advance climate and racial justice by focusing on direct service, activism, law, policy, and nonviolent civil disobedience, and we have been sustaining and growing those commitments for the past 10 years.

We climate activists have been out-organized by polluters and need to use every tool possible to advance climate justice. National organizations have a place, but local and state changes are what make peoples’ lives better, and that is where CLF comes in. 

New England is the innovative heartbeat of our country – home of unprecedented and astonishing scientific, medical, and technological breakthroughs. By supporting CLF, we hope that New England will continue to lead with innovative solutions to the climate crisis and advance climate justice both as a model and to make a tangible impact.