New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 16, 2024 — The Commonwealth Foundation will air a new television ad featuring a Pennsylvania mother calling out Gov. Josh Shapiro for once again breaking his promise to provide financial assistance in the form of $10,000 scholarships for vulnerable kids trapped in failing, unsafe schools. 

The ad will air Sunday, July 21 during This Week in Pennsylvania on WHTM in Harrisburg and Inside Story on WPVI in Philadelphia. Digital ads will air statewide.

Printess Garrett gives a powerful, real-life mom message:

“I believe that Governor Shapiro should stand on what he said, what he promised, the children of this state, and the promise, the only promise that I care about was the Lifeline Scholarship, putting our children and their education first,” says Garrett.

“Governor Shapiro, you lied, and you turned your back on us again. The only thing we have for our children is our word, and if we can’t trust in your word, we don’t have anything else.”

In the run-up to the ad’s release, Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Erik Telford and Printess Garrett issued the following statements:

“After vetoing his own campaign promise last year, Governor Shapiro didn’t even make an effort in this year’s budget to deliver on the commitment he made to our most vulnerable kids who are trapped in failing, unsafe schools,” said Telford.

“Governor Shapiro betrayed families like mine who need urgent help to ensure our kids have alternatives to failing schools,” said Garrett.

She noted, “The governor promised to fight for our kids as if they were his own—to better our education system and provide Lifeline Scholarships for vulnerable kids. But when Shapiro had the chance to deliver on his word in the budget, he turned his back on us yet again. Shapiro has been a major disappointment, he hasn’t kept his word, and he’s lost my trust.”

About Printess Garrett

Printess Garrett was raised in the Allison Hill neighborhood of Harrisburg where she was assigned to a district school that was unable to meet her learning needs. To attend a better school, Garrett moved away from her family and friends to live with her great-grandparents. Last year, Garrett confronted challenges that left her and her two children without a home. After joining a church, she found a support network that got her back on her feet.

You can watch the Commonwealth Foundation ad here.

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