American Humanist Association Welcomes Stiefel Freethought Foundation Gift

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Sarah Henry, (202) 238-9088, shenry@americanhumanist.org

(Washington, D.C., October 3, 2018) – The Stiefel Freethought Foundation has pledged $25,000 to the American Humanist Association to fund a research project regarding the public opinion of nontheists. The foundation has pledged an additional $1,000 matching gift, up to an additional $25,000, for every new elected official who identifies as a humanist, atheist, or nontheist at the federal and state levels this year.

“In these days of political divisiveness, hatred, and bigotry on the national scale, it’s more important than ever that we see humanist values exemplified in our elected officials,” explained Todd Stiefel. “I’m proud to support efforts across the country to increase the visibility and number of atheist, humanist, and other nontheist elected officials.”

Since its founding in 2009, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation has funded numerous nonprofits that promote freethought and the acceptance of atheists and humanists in the United States. The mission of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation is to secure humanity’s future by ensuring public policy decisions are based on love and reason, rather than bias and dogma. Todd Stiefel has given over $5 million to nonprofit advocacy and education organizations.

“As the number of nonreligious American grows rapidly, their values must be reflected in public office,” says Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. He continued, “We thank Todd and the Stiefel Freethought Foundation for their continued commitment to the promotion of humanistic values.”

###

The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.