My name is Melissa DeRosa and I am the New York State Director for Organizing for America. We in New York feel incredibly lucky to have President Barack Obama with us tonight to celebrate the end of our national day of action, and to thank all of our volunteers not only in New York, but nationwide, for the work that all of you have done to get us where we are today.
OFA supporters, volunteers, and activists here tonight are overcome with excitement The energy and enthusiasm in the room is palpable, with thousands working together to achieve the change we all fought together for almost one year ago.
OFA has worked in communities across New York and the country to highlight the stories that have been submitted online. Whether it is the story of the small business owner struggling to provide coverage for employees, the aspiring entrepreneur who worries about starting a business because he worries that he can’t afford insurance, or the employee who can’t send a child to a specialist because her insurance company says that doctor is “out of network.” We talk about these stories and the President’s plan at the doors, on the phones, and in the local papers every day. We are getting the message out there and building a lasting organization that will help us win on health reform, and the fights ahead. And today, we’re continuing that effort, that fight. Today, across the country thousands of volunteers have attended events to call friends and neighbors to encourage them to call their members of Congress in support of reform. Tonight’s event here is the culmination of the day’s work. Thousands of other OFA supporters will take a break from making phones calls and tune in online a little later to hear from Chairman Tim Kaine and President Obama. We've made over 200,000 calls to members of Congress at these events around the country and we couldn't have done it without you! That’s how people are empowered, that’s how change is made, and thanks to your support, that’s what OFA in now able to do. So thank you again for being your generous support. We truly could not have achieved our goals tonight without you!
