Help win marriage with the National Engagement Party!
September 07, 2012
Today, Freedom to Marry is launching the National Engagement Party, a networked program of house parties across the country to raise awareness and funds for marriage-related ballot measures in battleground states in November. The National Engagement Party will be a national event bringing together thousands of supporters for the freedom to marry on Saturday, October 13.
Six cities - Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, and Palm Springs - will serve host to high-profile anchor events, and the campaign will be rounded out with over a hundred other grassroots and do-it-yourself events across the country. Supporters of the freedom to marry are encouraged to sign up to host a house party or attend a nearby party so that the National Engagement Party can be as successful as possible.
All of the funds raised through the day of parties will go toward Freedom to Marry's Win More States Fund, which will then be strategically funneled into state ballot campaigns in Maine, Minnesota and Washington. More than $10 million is still needed in order for these campaigns to secure victory, so every single party and attendee helps! A few weeks ago, we announced that we met our initial $3 million goal months ahead of schedule, which allowed us to provide the state campaigns with essential funding to buy expensive TV ad time and other early ways to show voters why marriage matters.
Our founder and president Evan Wolfson trumpeted the launch of the National Engagement Party today. He said:
With marriage on the ballot in states from Maine to Washington, from Minnesota to Maryland, we all need to get engaged - and Freedom to Marry's National Engagement Party is a way all of us across the country can raise the money and awareness to fuel big wins this November. National Engagement Party house parties give people a chance to make a difference by taking away the opposition's talking point that we can't win at the ballot, and by racking up wins in key states that accelerate the momentum for the freedom to marry nationwide.
A continually expanding roster of honorary host committee members have lent their support to the National Engagement Party. The all-star list includes Academy Award-nominated actress Anne Hathaway, Emmy-winning actress Jane Lynch, Emmy-winning actress Edie Falco, journalist Thomas Roberts, author Andrew Sullivan, singer Lance Bass, and It Gets Better founders Dan Savage and Terry Miller. See the entire list of honorary host committee members HERE.
Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald, who is serving on the honorary host committee with her fiancé Will Swenson, said:
The National Engagement Party is a unique and exciting way for Americans to do what they can to make a difference in one of the most important social justice causes of our time. No one should ever be denied the freedom to marry the person they love. We are proud to be a part of the Honorary Host Committee and to do our part to help win marriage for all loving and committed couples.
Corproate sponsors for the event include Orbitz, who are also offering a trip for two to Mexico or the Caribbean for one house party host who raises $2,500 or more, and Here Media.
We're so excited about this great new way for Freedom to Marry supporters to connect and contribute to the campaign to win marriage nationwide. Check out all of the information on HOW YOU CAN HOST a party or HOW YOU CAN ATTEND an existing event in your area!