EOF Alumni

EOF Budget Advocacy Campaign 2010
Governor Christie's proposed budget includes an 8.7% cut to the EOF program. If you believe in EOF and what it has done and can do for you or others, please take a few minutes to share those thoughts with your legislatures. Ask them not to cut the EOF budget.

Email your District Legislators asking them to oppose proposed EOF budget cuts. If you'd like to do more, please contact me.

Steps to Email District Legislators [Newark & Jersey City Residents See Note Below]:

1. Go to www.njleg.state.nj.us/SelectMun.asp

2. Click the drop down menu: "Select a Municipality"

3. Scroll to find the town/city your reside in (hometown) and select

4. Select "Find Your Representatives

5. Check all representatives listed

6. Click "Select Your Representatives"

7. Complete the Email form to include:
7a. "Subject Line" is "Higher Education" from drop-down menu
7b. "Affiliation" is "Educational Opportunity Fund"
7c. "Relationship" may be "EOF Student", "EOF Alumni" or "EOF Advocate"
7d. Here are two sample emails, but please feel free to customize:

Option A:
- Email Subject: EOF Program Budget Cuts
- Identify yourself as a constituent (you reside in the legislator's district)
- Ask your legislatorto oppose Governor Christie's proposed $3.6M cut to the Educational Opportunity Fund's FY 2011 budget
- State how EOF has assisted you (i.e. financial assistance and program services including summer program, counseling, tutoring, leadership development, etc) [try to limit to 20 lines]
- End message by thanking legislator for his/her time and again request that your legislator oppose any cuts to the EOF budget
- Click "Submit"

Option B: [copy and paste each section]
Section I: Introductory Section
As my legislative representative, I am asking you to oppose any proposed budget cuts to New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program. Annually, EOF provides access to higher education to 12,000 students through financial assistance, as well as by providing academic, professional, and social development support programs. Dating back to 1968, EOF has produced over 36,000 college graduates, and any cuts to the EOF state-wide budget are counter-productive to sustaining a diverse talent pool which can meet New Jersey's workforce needs.

Section II: Briefly explain how EOF has helped you.

Section III: Financial Section
EOF is New Jersey's only comprehensive state supported higher education program serving low-income, first generation students, at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional school level. Thank you for taking the time to read my message, and please oppose any cuts to the EOF budget.

[Click "Submit"]

Note to Newark & Jersey City Residents:
Your city is made up of multiple districts. You must first identify your legislators based on your home address and zip code. Once you've located them, write their names down, and then follow steps 1 - 7 listed above. To find your legislators, (a) go to www.congress.org; (b) in the "Get Involved" section, type your zip code and click "Go"; (c) locate the box titled, "If You Don't Know Your Zip + 4, type in your home address and zip code and click "Go"; (d) in the section titles "Governor and State Legislators" you will find listed your Senate and Assembly legislators; (e) write these names down and district # and proceed to follow steps 1-7 above.

Thank you for your continued support of EOF! If you have any questions or concerns, please message me!

Simone