Don’t give money to my US Senate campaign this week . . .
by Jennifer on 12.22.2009
In my race to become the first woman US Senator from Ohio, I rely very heavily on the Internet and e-mail to communicate with voters and to raise critical funds for a winning campaign. We spend a great deal of time and thought writing to you about important issues and asking you for your support. I've been overwhelmed by the generosity that I've seen from all across the state and country, both in time and talent and in generous monetary donations.
During the holiday season, though, I'd like to ask you to give your time and money to your favorite charity, instead of giving it to my campaign.
Personally, of the charities I support, these three stand out. The first is Mental Health America of Franklin County. This organization is near and dear to me because I have just finished two terms serving on its board and believe strongly in its advocacy role for mental health parity in health care. When I was a judge, its ombudsman helped defendants through my court when their reason for being charged with a crime often arose from untreated mental illness. It's a worthwhile cause.
Another charity I strongly support is the Arbor Day Foundation. Did you know you can have trees planted in memory or celebration of a loved one? After I lost my dad, it meant a lot to me to plant trees in his memory. He and I had planted a tree together when I was a child. While we prepared the ground and pruned the tree, he talked to me about how we could shape it when it was young to influence its beauty as a mature tree. When the Arbor Day Foundation planted trees in his memory, I wondered how many birds would be sheltered in their branches and how his trees and the 8 million planted in honor of so many others would make our air cleaner.
And a third is the National Parks & Recreation Association. After taking our children to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, to Gettysburg, to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and later to Muir Woods north of San Francisco, I realized how much these and other national parks preserve our special heritage as a country and help bring families together in meaningful ways.
May your holiday season be filled with peace, joy, love, and hope.
Thanks for all that you do,
Jennifer Brunner