Friends of SMART,
SMART's state funding has been cut. We need your help to restore it.
While 93% of funding for SMART comes from private individuals, businesses and grants, the remaining 7% comes from the State of Oregon. But our funding has been removed from the 2009-11 budget. This week, please call or email legislators and urge them to restore it.
1. Download the email list/call list for the Subcommittee on Education, and Subcommittee on Ways & Means. Use the talking points below. Add a personal message about why SMART is important to you/your community.
2. Find your legislator and call or email them.
SMART - State Budget Talking Points, May 20, 2009
- Fund SMART! Please restore SMART’s appropriation request for $263,000 in the 2009-11 budget. These funds allow SMART to purchase take-home books for more than 7,500 K-3 students in the program over two years.
- In 2008, SMART took significant steps to reduce operating expenses. The organization reduced its budget by $1 million in order to become more sustainable and reach more children in the long-term.
- Earlier this year, due to the recession the executive team took voluntary pay cuts and SMART has reduced staffing levels at headquarters by an additional 30 percent. SMART did this to ensure reading support to more than 7,200 Oregon kids would not be interrupted this school year.
- However, if you do not support SMART’s appropriation request, they will be forced to reduce service to more than 500 children.
- Reading is the foundation for learning. If kids don’t learn to read, they can’t read to learn. SMART has a 17-year record of success in helping kids who need it most learn to read.
- Please restore SMART’s appropriation request for $263,000 in the 2009-11 budget.
Thank you for taking action on behalf of Oregon children in need of literacy support.
Terry Shanley, SMART CEO
Update (June 9): We sent a petition to legislators with over 880 signatures from SMART supporters. There's still time to participate! Make your voice heard today using the instructions below. Thank you for advocating on behalf of Oregon's children. - Terry