Raising money for children's health while also investing in a dangerous future for them?

By Ian Everbach, EQAT volunteer, and Eve Gutman, EQAT Communications and Research Manager

On October 18th, we joined eight other activists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) signature fundraiser, the semiannual Carousel Ball. Our mission? Attracting the attention of Greg Davis, President/CIO of The Vanguard Group.

Based in Malvern PA, Vanguard is unfortunately the largest investor of fossil fuels in the world. Oops! But inspired by that Quaker teaching of a soul’s redeeming light, we believe in the inner goodness of Vanguard leaders, despite their current choices. We see in Greg Davis someone who endeavors as Chair of CHOP’s Board of Trustees to save children from needless suffering, but who, through his work, is taking actions that furnish those very same children a world in ecological crisis.

About seven people stand and sit in a circle outside while one person speaks to the group

Our prearranged meeting-place was a public park near the gala. Pretty soon my fellow compatriots arrived, then the organizers. An excited tension crackled; some of these people I’d met briefly over Zoom, others were perfect strangers, yet we were all about to trust each other. After introductions and sign-ins, organizers explained the plan: two pairs each holding banners, approaching via public sidewalks, holding space as firmly as reasonable to get our message across. We took a collective breath as a spiritual centering — then it was time.

Cars arrived and we cast a joyous spectacle; with plain-dressed civilians amidst the city’s wealthiest in their formalwear, the optics felt quite absurdist. Security liaison, event photographer, and action lead at the ready, we planted near the intersection of three slow-moving streets near the parking lot, so curious gala-attendees couldn’t help but read our signs, then determinately avoid eye-contact — although we got one supportive honk!

Two people stand on a sidewalk, holding a red banner, while in the background, someone in a suit speaks to the passenger of a car.

Once our group attracted the attention of a security guard, it was our organizers’ time to shine. As they kept reiterating, we are on Greg Davis’s side. Good friends call us out (and in) so that we can do and be more, realizing the better angels of our conscience. Framed positively, investment defers resources in the hopes of prosperity in the future; renewable, sustainable energy sources are the way of that future. Greg Davis needs to be part of transformational change towards that world, and we need to campaign until he is.

After some heroic deliberations, we cheerily relocated to the opposite corner and continued demonstrating. I, Ian, shared banner duty with an affable new friend, who regaled me with tales of past actions as we honed attention-grabbing techniques. By the time four cars arrived, the afternoon’s inauguration was winding down and our group calmly returned to the park, sharing thoughts and feelings, fostering a greater connection amongst us in a debrief. We imagine that our action was a talk of the party; EQAT’s presence made the impact it needed to, and we advanced a global movement larger than ourselves. Greg, now that we have your attention, we’d very much like to meet you!