Monday, December 31, 2012

The Sikh Coalition Can I Count on Your Help?


The Sikh Coalition Can I Count on Your Help?

Dear Supporter Ji,

I write to first directly thank you in my role as Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition for making 2012 our single most impactful year. 

The capacity this institution built over the last 11 years prepared us to lead the national crisis response to the tragedy in Oak Creek. We’ve experienced several major legal and advocacy victories as well as made inroads in the long & important journey to educate our fellow Americans about Sikhi. (See the end of my email for highlights.) 

I'm often asked what motivates me to do this work. Every morning I prepare my two-and-a-half year old son for pre-school and like so many other Sikh moms around the country I do his jurda, I tie his patka and I send him off into the world with the hope that he will be a strong Sikh, a good human being and will ultimately fulfill his potential in life. Like you, I want our children to experience a more Sikh-friendly world than we did. Like you, I support this work because what we do today matters for generations of Sikh Americans to come. 

And then I reach the Sikh Coalition office and have the privilege of working alongside an unbelievably talented team. The Sikh Coalition's full time professional staff is a group of warriors unlike any other. They have each left potentially lucrative careers in the private sector to engage in this work professionally so that our children can have a brighter future. They approach this work with passion, intellect and always in the spirit of chardi kala. The results, as you can see below, speak for themselves. 

We count on visionary community members like you to make our collective progress possible. 

We have really appreciated your activism and interest in this important work. Our records indicate that so far this year you have not provided any financial support to further our effort. I humbly request that in the final days of 2012 you consider making a donation. Your donation will have a significant impact on our ability to achieve ambitious goals on behalf of the community next year. Every dollar counts and I promise you, your investment in the Sikh Coalition will pay returns for years to come. 

You can either donate online at www.SikhDonate.org or send a check in to: 
The Sikh Coalition 
50 Broad Street, Suite 1537
New York, NY 10004

Again, thank you for your thoughtful consideration. As always please be in touch if we can be helpful in any way. Let’s make sure the Sikh flag flies high in 2013 and for generations of Sikh Americans to come! 

Chardi Kala! 
Sapreet
In 2012, the Sikh Coalition broke ground with several initiatives:
Led effort to have AB1964 - the nation’s strongest workplace religious freedom law - signed into law in California.
Created FlyRights, a nationally acclaimed mobile phone application, to combat profiling at airports.
Organized a first-ever White House briefing on Sikh civil rights issues.
Favorably settled major religious discrimination lawsuits against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York City's subway system) and Autozone (an auto parts company) on behalf of Sikh clients.
Coordinated outreach efforts in celebration of Sikh Awareness Month in California.
Launched Junior Sikh Coalition, a Sikh youth leadership program with students from the tri-state area.
And in response to the tragedy in Oak Creek, the Sikh Coalition:
Immediately engaged with the local sangat, government, and media following the Oak Creek tragedy and continues to provide support.
Appeared on and in CNN, NBC Nightly News, Associated Press, New York Times and countless other media outlets in support of the community after the tragic hate-motivated killings of Sikhs in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
Led efforts to secure a historic U.S. Senate hearing on hate crimes and domestic extremism.

Again, all this was made possible because of generous supporters like yourself. We cannot thank you enough for helping build this institution and enabling the work that we do. With your continued support, we know we can accomplish even more in 2013!
--
Sapreet Kaur

Executive Director

The Sikh Coalition
National Office
50 Broad Street,
Suite 1537
New York ,
New York 10004

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