Our goal for the GiveBIG campaign this year is $35,000. PSARA faces some significant new financial chal- lenges in 2025. The demands of the work we do have grown and will re- quire greater financial resources.

We are organizing to resist the at- tacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, programs essential to the lives of seniors, people with disabilities, children, and low-income adults. We will also assist other organizations in fighting the racist, sexist, homophobic, autocratic, and cruel actions amount- ing to the fascist policies of the Musk/ Trump administration and the national Republican Party.

When fighting for a decent future for our communities and future generations, education and organizing are essential. We will continue to advocate positive, progressive policies that lead to a much greater degree of economic and social justice for all people. While we oppose fascism, our policies also describe what we are fighting for.

PSARA is growing. Our ability to make a significant contribution to the broader resistance battle is increasing. We now have an effective and expanding PSARA chapter in Pierce County, joining King County and Clallam County as a powerful voice in the broader struggle for economic and social justice.

Most recently, for the very first time, PSARA is the lead organization for a piece of legislation in the 2025 legislative session in Washington State. At the suggestion, and with the encouragement, and support of Sen. Bob Hasegawa, PSARA decided to help draft and lead advocacy for SJM (Senate Joint Memorial) 8002. Sen. Hasegawa, a PSARA member, is the prime sponsor of the legislation.

The PSARA Education Fund has provided critical educational material as SJM 8002 goes through the legislative process. Most recently, the WA State Senate, by a 30-19 vote, passed the legislation, going on record supporting leveling the playing field between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. SJM 8002 now goes to the House.

We will work to educate House members to take a stand against the total privatization of Medicare. Our goal is to give Medicare beneficiaries a genuine choice of which program they want to enroll in without suffering the necessity to purchase supplemental insurance or a prescription drug policy from private insurers.

Social Security is under attack by the Musk/Trump regime in a way we have not seen in our lifetimes. The former Commissioner of Social Security, Martin O’Malley, warned of a system collapse in the months ahead because of reduc- tions in work force by various means and the vicious attacks by Musk/Trump, with Musk claiming Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.

They say that there is fraud in Social Security of $500 to $700 billion. Both of these assertions are lies. They are looking for ways to steal our benefits to finance their tax breaks and at the same time privatize this vital social insurance program. We must have the resources to respond to these attacks.

The PSARA Education Fund donations help to cover the costs of creating and distributing The Retiree Advocate. Your contributions also support the development of new educational and advocacy materials and in-person pro- grams on why Congress should Scrap the Cap on Social Security and expand benefits; on stopping the privatization of Social Security and Medicare and making significant improvements to the public Medicare system; and on defending Medicaid, a healthcare program critical to seniors who need long term care, children, people with disabilities, and very low income adults.

The Board members of the PSARA Education Fund and PSARA will be asked to generously donate to the PSARA Education Fund, and our members will be asked to collectively match the Board’s donation for the 2025 Give- BIG campaign.

In the coming year the Education Fund will sponsor educational pro- grams in different parts of the region, state, and nationally that will focus on how we can best resist Musk/Trump/ Vance attacks. We will highlight how we can create a better and more humane alternative to the dangerous direction the President’s administration and the national Republican Party and their al- lies want to take our country.

We need your generous financial assistance now more than ever.

GiveBIG days are May 6 and 7. Early online giving for GiveBIG starts on April

22. Donations can be made from April 22 through May 7 by going to wagives.org/donate/Psara-Education-Fund.

For members who prefer not to donate online or want the Education Fund to receive the full amount of your donation, send a check to the PSARA Education Fund any time between now and May 7. Write “GiveBIG” in the memo line, so we know your donation is in response to the GiveBIG campaign. Mail your check to the PSARA Education Fund, 321 16th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144. Choosing this option saves the PSARA Education Fund a small percentage processing fee that PSARA pays for online donations.

Please contribute as generously as you can. Thank you.