Can we count on you?

Dear Henrico Citizen reader, 

This year, the pandemic has made it clearer than ever why local news matters — and nowhere has that been more evident than in the realm of education.

As the debate about whether, and then when, students would begin returning in person earlier this year, readers like you turned to the Henrico Citizen in record numbers to get answers to the questions that mattered most:  

What will in-school learning look like? What options will remain for virtual learning? How will school officials ensure my children’s safety while still educating them effectively?

As the year has progressed, COVID has presented new challenges and caused new changes to the way public education looks in Henrico – and we’ve been there to document and explain it every step along the way, keeping you informed.

But to keep doing this, we need your help. Can we count on you for a tax-deductible gift to the Citizen?

Your tax-deductible support fuels reporting from our Report for America corps member and education reporter Anna Bryson, who joined us in June and already has written nearly 90 articles about education in just five months. She’s the only full-time Henrico education reporter in this market, and it shows.

Anna has broken numerous stories – including her recent article about a book being removed from Henrico high schools and others about the success of the school system’s CTE program; the gaps in graduation rates for Hispanic students and English-learners; and the Henrico Education Association’s push for collective bargaining, among many others.

Very simply, if not for Anna’s coverage, many of these topics never would have been covered anywhere. We partnered with Report for America – a national service program that matches talented, diverse reporters with growing news gaps – to bring Anna to Henrico because readers like you told us education coverage was critically important, and we agreed. We need your help to continue this important work.

Thank you for considering a generous donation today. Now, more than ever, your support makes all the difference.

Stay safe, and informed.

With appreciation, 

Tom Lappas
Publisher • Editor

P.S. Did you know that your gift to the Henrico Citizen is tax deductible through our partnership with Report for America? This year, under the CARES Act, gifts of up to $300 are deductible, even if you don’t typically itemize. Click here to make your donation today.