As we mark this Fourth of July holiday weekend, we at The Lenfest Institute wish to thank and celebrate two groups of community members without whom our work would not be possible.

We thank all of the local journalists here in Philadelphia and around the country who work tirelessly — often at great risk to their own health and safety — to report the news without fear or favor, keeping us safe and helping keep us free. And we thank everyone who has given so generously to the Lenfest Institute to help fund our work.

We are proud to publicly honor and recognize our donors and funding partners in today’s issue of The Philadelphia Inquirer. You can find our message by clicking here or in today’s printed newspaper. This thank you message appears appropriately within a section of The Inquirer dedicated to discussing the aspirational meaning of liberty and equality in America. 

The Lenfest Institute is committed to  protecting a free and independent press — a core American value for which our nation’s founders fought and died. We also recognize that there is much work to be done to ensure that the self-evident truths of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness espoused in the Declaration of Independence are afforded equitably to all Americans. This work would not be possible without the support of the thousands of supporters like you who understand that local journalism is a cornerstone of our democracy.

Thank you for joining us in creating an equitable, sustainable path forward for essential local journalism.