Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! In less than 48 hours, we are going to close the books on our 2016 fundraising. These are critical hours because if we don’t make our goal, we won’t have the funds run all our programs next year. 
Just this week, we learned that a revised policy would allow Sikh Americans to serve in the New York Police Department with full turbans. While encouraged by this revision, we are awaiting the final written policy so there aren’t other undue restrictions to beards. For nearly two decades, SALDEF has worked with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on training and nondiscrimination policies through our Law Enforcement Partnership Program (LEPP). We do this work with law enforcement, youth, legislators, and teachers so all Sikh Americans can realize their full potential. But we can’t do this without your financial support. We are currently about $60,000 short of our year-end fundraising goal. Please donate by clicking here now so we can continue our mission of further empowering the Sikh American community in 2017. As we enter our third decade, we have made enormous strides. Just this year, we placed the largest number of Sikh American students–16–on Capitol Hill through our SikhLEAD DC Internship program. They, in turn, helped organize the annual “Langar on the Hill,” with more 500 attendees, including more than a dozen Members of Congress. We also strengthened helped organize the celebration of Guru Nanak Sahib’s Gurpurab at the White House last month. With your year-end contribution, SALDEF can do even more. 
Just this year, we placed 16 students on Capitol Hill through our SikhLEAD DC Internship program–the largest-ever Sikh American presence on Capitol Hill. They, in turn, helped organize the annual “Langar on the Hill,” with more 500 attendees, including more than a dozen Members of Congress. We also helped organize the celebration of Guru Nanak Sahib’s Gurpurab at the White House last month. I hope you’ll take a moment to do something truly important for all Sikh Americans. I hope you’ll donate to SALDEF today. We at SALDEF wish you and yours the very best and Chardhi-kalaa in the coming year. Thank you. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! Manjit Singh Chairman and Co-Founder
