June 1st is Stand For Children Day

Stand for Children is an American education advocacy group. Founded in 1996 following a Children's Defense Fund rally the non-profit advocates for changes in public education. Stand for Children's mission "is to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, graduate from high school prepared for, and with access to, a college education."

Over the years, the organization has shifted its focus from children's issues to improving public education funding, and from funding to improving the public education system. The organization includes both a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization called Stand for Children, as well as a 501(c)(3) training organization called Stand for Children Leadership Center.

On June 1, 1996, over 300,000 people rallied in Washington, D.C. for "Stand for Children Day" at the Lincoln Memorial. This event was the largest demonstration in support of children in U.S. history. Rosa Parks, civil rights movement icon, made a statement that challenged the people of nation to commit themselves to improving the lives of children, saying, "If I can sit down for justice, you can stand up for children." Two days later, Time featured a cover with the headline, "Who Speaks for Kids?," and an interview with long-time children's activist Marian Wright Edelman, the mother of Stand for Children's CEO and co-founder, Jonah Edelman.

Following their work at the rally, Jonah Edelman and Eliza Leighton founded Stand for Children, seeking to pursue ongoing advocacy for the nation's children. The organization backed hundreds of rallies nationwide over the next two years, before moving toward more systemic changes. Today, Jonah Edelman is the CEO of Stand for Children, and Eliza Leighton is a member of the Board of Directors of Stand for Children Leadership Center.

Stand for Children opened a series of offices around the United States that had a local focus. Over time, Stand began focusing on statewide issues—particularly public education funding, which seemed of highest concern to parents and other community members.