Dan Russell has participated in ACORN and studied its impact since 1975, documenting how their organizing approach genuinely improves lives—from tax clinics helping working families claim millions in credits to confronting predatory lending practices. Dan and his wife Beth are thrilled about ACORN's return to the US. They're celebrating Dan's birthday this Saturday by offering a $750 matching gift through GIVE NOLA Day. Having witnessed ACORN's model succeed across 20 countries—from rebuilding New Orleans after Katrina to establishing global community unions—they believe in its power to build grassroots change. Your donation, doubled by their match, will expand ACORN's organizer network, sustain the Lower Ninth Ward Farm, amplify the power of ACORN Community Voice in New Orleans, and train future leaders at ACORN Organizing School to help expand in the USA and abroad.

ACORN began in Arkansas on June 18, 1970, as a membership-based organization of low and moderate income families and grew to 500,000 US members by 2008. Members worked in their communities on issues of income, housing, banking, education, and community development. Many were from other countries and wanted to engage similar issues, win campaigns and build power in their home countries. Since 2003, ACORN has 250,000 members in India, Canada and more than 15 countries, headquartered in New Orleans with longtime affiliates in LA, AR, OH, PA and elsewhere. ACORN's mission is a voice for our members to build sufficient power to resolve long standing grievances and win power to make change