Farmworker Justice is pleased to present the ninth annual Farmworker Justice Award to Linda Chavez-Thompson, former Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO, at a reception in Washington, D.C.  

WHEN: Wednesday, May 14th 6-8pm

WHERE: The National Education Association, 1201 16th Street NW (just north of our FJ's office! between M and N Streets).

WHY: to honor a farmworker and labor leader who has advanced the interests of farmworkers throughout her career.

Please join us!

We thank the National Education Association for their generous offer to host the Reception. 

Linda Chavez-Thompson began chopping cotton in Texas at age ten, left school to work in the fields to help support her family, and continued farm work through her teens.  She became a labor organizer and later won election as Vice President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union.  In 1995 she was elected Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO, the highest position ever held by a woman or a person of color.   She retired in late 2007 and is now Executive Vice President Emerita.  Throughout her years at the AFL-CIO, Ms. Chavez-Thompson supported the work of farmworker advocates and the efforts of Farmworker Justice. 

We are pleased to have the opportunity to honor Linda Chavez-Thompson for her lifelong dedication to the cause of improving living and working conditions for the nation's agricultural workers.  Previous recipients of this annual award are Rep. Howard Berman, María Echaveste, Dolores Huerta, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Rep. George Miller, Arturo Rodriguez, Baldemar Velasquez, and Raul Yzaguirre.   

Farmworker Justice is a national advocacy organization for migrant and seasonal farmworkers.  Our mission is to empower farmworkers to improve their wages, working conditions, immigration status, occupational safety, health and access to justice.  We engage in high-impact litigation, advocacy, training, technical assistance, coalition building, and support for farmworker organizing.  Supporters like you have enabled us to help farmworkers for the past 27 years.  And the best is yet to come.

Our award committee this year is in formation and will send invitations soon.  We ask that you become a sponsor so that we may include you on the formal invitation.  To become a sponsor, please print and fill out this form and mail it to us at the below address with a contribution.   

Please join the expanding list of sponsors!

Sponsorships categories are:

·         Presenting Sponsor ($15,000) (15 tickets and brief welcoming statement at the reception)

·         Harvester of Justice ($10,000)(12 tickets and special placement in event materials)

·         Benefactor ($5,000, 10 tickets and prominent placement in written materials)

·         Patron ($2,500, 8 tickets)

·         Friend ($1,000, 5 tickets)

·         Sponsor ($500, (3 tickets),

·         Supporter ($250, 1 ticket). 

All timely sponsors will be recognized in the formal invitation and in the event program and will receive the appropriate number of tickets.

Your support helps us empower farmworkers.  Our thirteen full-time staff, aided by volunteers, are providing farmworkers with legal representation, advocacy in Congress and administrative agencies on immigration, labor and pesticide issues, media support, training on health promotion, and many other services.  We serve as a voice for farmworkers in the nation’s capital and in the courts.  We also help other advocates by providing them with expertise and information, as well as networking, to achieve important victories. 

Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law as Farmworker Justice is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.  Individual tickets will be on sale soon for $80.  Please fill out and promptly return the sponsorship form.  Or donate online using a credit card by clicking on the donate button below:

For further information, please contact Ms. Lorna Báez at 202-293-5420, ext. 306 or lbaez@farmworkerjustice.org. 

Thank you to all our current sponsors!

Benefactor

California Endowment

Service Employees International Union

Southern Poverty Law Center

Linda Lipsett & Jules Bernstein

Patron

James & Hoffman P.C.

James B. Leonard and Joan S. Leonard

Robin Talbert and Bruce Goldstein

Friend

Kathy L. Krieger

Ross Eisenbrey and Barbara Somson

Sponsor

American Rights at Work

Representative Howard Berman

Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

Children's Defense Fund

Julie K. Clark

Dale E. Good and Lois A. Good

Jo Ann K. Intili

Mehri & Skalet, PLLC

Representative Hilda L. Solis

The Raben Group

Rural Housing, Inc.

UAW, Region 9-A

United Mine Workers of America

UMOS

Supporter

Anonymous

American G.I. Forum (Visalia,CA)

Farmworker Legal Services of New York, Inc.

Linda F. Golodner

D. Michael Hancock and Joan Dall'Acqua

Herman Schwartz

Cornelia and Jan Flora

Karen Coe