PRESS RELEASE: New Nonprofit Politisit Launches and Debuts Website
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 04/03/17
Gillian Wildfire
Public Relations Manager
(202) 360-5117
gillianwildfire@gmail.com
New Nonprofit Politisit Launches and Debuts Website
Politisit pays for childcare to enable caregivers to participate in civic engagement
PORTLAND, OR: Politisit, a new non-profit that reimburses childcare costs to caregivers participating in civic events, announced the launch of the organization and its website Politisit.org today. Founded to eliminate cost as a barrier to civic participation, Politisit provides post-event reimbursements for trusted childcare while families participate in civic events. Politisit will work to ensure institutions, government entities, and nonprofits include the involvement of parents who otherwise couldn’t take part due to the cost of childcare. Increased engagement will enable greater community influence on legislation and policy.
“During the election last year I was struck by the long lines to vote,” said founder and local attorney Rachel Sowray. “I thought, ‘I can’t imagine trying to do that with a toddler, and a mom shouldn’t have to choose between paying a babysitter to go vote and paying the bills.’” This only illustrated a fraction of the problem, though.
Access to affordable childcare keeps caretakers from civic activities and political engagement on a regular basis. “When I thought about how many voices are silenced, I decided to fix the problem,” stated Ms. Sowray. “I hope that Politisit enables caregivers to influence legislation and policy so it reflects what they truly want and need. By getting more voices to the table, we will strengthen our communities and democracy as a whole.”
Politisit is a simple scholarship program. When a caregiver is interested in Politisit’s service, she first fills out the application form. After approval, she can request childcare reimbursement for civic events she is interested in attending. After the event, the caregiver sends proof of attendance, and Politisit then reimburses for the approved childcare cost via Paypal or check.
“We want to become a model for raising the voices of caregivers across the United States,” said Ms. Sowray. Oregon will be the first focus, with hopes for a subsequent expansion to other states after a successful model is established.
The YWCA of Greater Portland is providing fiscal sponsorship services to Politisit. This allows all cash and in-kind donations to Politisit to be tax deductible under U.S. tax law. The YWCA of Greater Portland also supports Politisit with expertise in financial management, operations, and leadership, which allows Politisit to build capacity and focus on implementing an effective program.
To learn more about Politisit, visit the website: http://www.politisit.org/
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