Friday, August 12, 2011
What’s in a name? When the name is Friedman, everything — particularly when it comes to school choice for all children.
That is why we are thrilled to announce that on July 31, 2011 — on what would have been Milton Friedman’s 99th birthday — we changed our legal name back to the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.
Milton and Rose Friedman taught that ideas must be evaluated objectively and rigorously and that empirical evidence over time is critical to making sound decisions. The overwhelming evidence over the last 18 months is that our supporters and partners want us to return the Friedmans’ name to the forefront of our organization.
Because the Friedman name is so closely associated with Milton’s and Rose’s vision of universal school choice, we concluded that their name’s absence would not benefit the cause for which they fought so hard. So after much consideration by our board of directors, and discussions with and approval from the Friedmans’ children (Janet Friedman Martel and David Friedman), the decision was made to meet the demand.
We are grateful to all our board members, who discussed and ultimately approved this change, and we are particularly indebted to Janet and David for their dedication and willingness to grant us permission to use the Friedman name.
This change couldn’t be timelier. In 2011, we have seen greater advances toward the Friedman vision of school choice than at any other time in our movement’s history.
Before their passing, Milton and Rose made it clear that the work of the Foundation needed to continue until every child in America was free to attend a school of choice. Now, not only will that work carry on, but it will do so with a foundation that once again bears their name.
So, what’s in a name? Everything.
