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CDF Releases State of America's Children 2008® Report
CDF recently released its State of America's Children 2008 report, a compilation of the most recent and reliable national and state-by-state data on poverty, health, child welfare, youth at risk, early childhood development, education, nutrition and housing. The report provides a statistical compendium of key child data showing epidemic numbers of children at risk: the number of poor children has increased nearly 500,000 to 13.3 million, with 5.8 million of them living in extreme poverty, and nearly 9 million children lack health coverage―with both numbers likely to increase during the recession. The number of children and teens killed by firearms also increased after years of decline.
Learn more and download the report. |
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Ensure Health Care Reform Includes Health Coverage for All Children
There is growing momentum for our new President and Congress to take up health care reform this year, and we want to make sure that any reform legislation includes health coverage for all children. Our new President ran on a promise of health coverage for every child and we want to make that promise a reality in 2009. Join CDF and the thousands of other child advocates in sending a letter to your Members of Congress today!
Next to an in-person meeting, a hand-written, personalized letter is the most effective way of communicating with your elected official. It is critical that we get these letters to Capitol Hill early in this new Congressional session.
We make it easy by providing you with step-by-step instructions and guidance on how to craft your letter and who to send it to. Please take action today! |
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Apply Today for CDF's Young Advocate Leadership Training Program!
Part of CDF's vision is to develop the next generation of leaders—young people who are committed to social justice and the welfare of all children. To help achieve this goal, one of the many programs that CDF offers is the Young Advocates Leadership Training (YALTSM) program.
Each year, the YALT program attracts hundreds of young adults who participate in a weekend-long training program where they develop knowledge and skills in child advocacy. This training program provides participants with an excellent opportunity to connect with other young leaders, community organizers, child advocates and activists from around the country to learn new advocacy skills, models and strategies that can be implemented in their communities and on their college campuses.
The 2009 YALT program is scheduled to take place March 20-22, 2009, at CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennessee. Learn more and apply today! |
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CDF Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Gala at Kennedy Center
On the evening of October 6, friends of CDF from across the country and from all walks of life came together to celebrate our accomplishments and rededicate our efforts to ensure a brighter future for America's children at CDF's 35th Anniversary Gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The event included hosts Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, actress Jurnee Smollett, ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, Editor Emerita of Essence magazine Susan L. Taylor, actress and comedienne Ali Wentworth, singer and actress Holly Robinson Peete and a special video tribute from actor Sidney Poitier. Performers included renowned teenaged pianist Peng-Peng Gong, Broadway Kids, singer N’Kenge, Grammy® award-winning a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Impact Repertory Theatre.
View video statements from CDF Board Members and view photos from the event. |
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An Inspiring Call to Action from CDF President Marian Wright Edelman
CDF President Marian Wright Edelman has released her new book, The Sea Is So Wide and My Boat Is So Small: Charting a Course for the Next Generation, a call to action for all Americans to address the urgent needs of the country's youth. The book is a series of letters to a variety of audiences—educators, faith leaders, youth, mothers, elected officials and concerned citizens nationwide that reflect on the social and economic progress as well as the setbacks since Dr. King's death 40 years ago. Mrs. Edelman challenges each audience to step up and take action at this pivotal moment to ensure a level playing field for the next generation. Learn more. |
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CDF Official Idol Gives Back Beneficiary
 CDF is thrilled to be an official Idol Gives Back 2008 beneficiary. During the special broadcast of American Idol, on April 9, that raised awareness and benefited select U.S. and international charities, CDF Board Member Reese Witherspoon highlighted CDF's work for children. We are immensely grateful to FOX and our longtime friend and Academy Award® winning actress Reese Witherspoon for showing the millions of American Idol viewers nationwide that every step we take to improve the lives of children improves the lives of all of us. As CDF turns 35 this year we could not ask for a better birthday gift!
View a video of Reese Witherspoon's presentation during the broadcast.
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