We're Thankful!

And the winner of “Biggest Home State Win” is … the Commonwealth Foundation!

You can imagine the excitement of CF staff when we recently found out we’d won a prestigious national award for efforts to provide another 15,000 Pennsylvania kids with an education that fits their needs.

Each year, the State Policy Network (SPN) names several state-based think tanks as finalists for key awards. The winner is selected by popular vote in an online poll.

The category “Biggest Home State Win” recognizes organizations whose contributions helped achieve significant policy wins. CF was nominated for our work to expand tax credit scholarships in Pennsylvania. As SPN noted,

Thanks to the Foundation’s persistent outreach over several years, tax credit scholarships have shifted from an obscure topic to a consistent point of discussion among Pennsylvania parents, educators, lawmakers, and the media. Despite the governor’s strong opposition to school choice, the Foundation’s research, op-eds, and student stories built the support needed to overturn the governor’s veto and increase funding for these programs by $30 million so that 15,000 more kids could benefit from school choice.

We’re thankful to our colleagues throughout the country for recognizing our efforts. But more importantly, we’re thankful to our donors, lawmakers, and coalition partners here in Pennsylvania who made this important victory possible for kids across the state.

We promise not to rest on our laurels—there is still work to be done. Last year, nearly 50,000 tax credit scholarship applications were denied due to lack of funds. There is no shortage of businesses willing to donate; rather, arbitrary government-imposed caps limit the amount of tax credits available for the programs. Our success in increasing the caps this year will only help a fraction of the kids who were denied last year. We must press on.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year with family and friends, please know that we at the Commonwealth Foundation are thankful for your support.