17) PV Fund Drive: $50,000 in 2010

17) PV FUND DRIVE: $50,000 IN 2010
$8,215 TURNED IN DURING FIRST TWO WEEKS!

(The following article is from the April 1-15, 2010, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers and overseas readers - $50 per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)

Just two weeks after our annual Fund Drive appeals went into the mail, readers are responding with a terrific display of generous solidarity. As of March 22, we have received a total of $8,215, or 16.4% of our $50,000 target for this year.

Leading the way so far is British Columbia, with $5,120 turned in already. That’s 20.5% of our $20,000 goal for the west coast, thanks in part to very substantial donations from readers like Paul Belanger and Eric Waugh.

Several articles in this issue drive home the important role of People’s Voice. We have reports on three recent major events: the huge march of 75,000 public sector workers in Montreal, the rally in solidarity with striking Steelworkers in Sudbury, and the formation of the Coalition to Build a Better B.C. These important actions received some local coverage in regional papers, but almost zero attention in the big corporate media. They don’t consider labour organizing news - but it’s the number one reason for our paper’s existence, and the best reason to support People’s Voice.

The first fundraising event of the Drive, the annual Pasta Dinner held by the Vancouver East Club, was a success on March 21 - thanks to everyone who came for the dinner and the screening of Capitalism: A Love Story.

Donations are also starting to arrive in Ontario, where readers have contributed $2525 so far, or 11.7% of the provincial target of $21,600. Early donations of $250 from Alberta, $120 from Manitoba, and $200 from friends in other countries have helped kick the Drive into high gear. Let’s keep the ball rolling!

The next fundraising event will take place before most readers see this paper. On the evening of March 27, Toronto area readers will be at the GCDO Hall (290 Danforth Ave.) for some great music, food and refreshments, plus greetings from PV Editor Kimball Cariou. We’ll report on this event next time.

The Burnaby Club has announced details of their popular Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast. Mark Sunday, May 9 on your calendars, starting 10 am, at 5435 Kincaid Street. It’s just $10 (or $8 for readers under 12) for all the fabulous breakfast you can eat. For details, call Anna at 604-294-6775.

As a mark of appreciation for your generosity, we are once again offering supporters complimentary gifts. For each $100 in donations, you can choose one of these black and white portraits, mounted on card, matted and ready for framing: Che Guevara, Clara Zetkin, Augusto Cesar Sandino, Bhagat Singh, Gall (Sioux), Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Louis Riel, Jeanne Corbin, or Gladys Marin. Other choices include music CDs or a copy of our 2010 Women’s Socialist Calendar.