Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety is a left-of-center social media and advocacy project of the Center for Environmental Health. ¹ It was founded by Lendri Purcell, a current co-vice-president for Jonas Philanthropies, a left-leaning grantmaking foundation. ²

Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety is a signatory to letters calling for Congress to pass the Green New Deal, for President Joe Biden to declare a “climate emergency” under the National Emergencies Act to reinstate a ban on crude oil exports, and to redirect disaster relief funding to “renewable energy construction in frontline communities.” ^{3 4}

Background

Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety (FACTS) is a left-of-center environmental health advocacy project of the Center for Environmental Health, a left-of-center organization that advocates for stronger environmental and business regulations in the United States. It also lists Jonas Philanthropies, a left-of-center grantmaking foundation, as a supporter and fiscal sponsor of FACTS. ^{5 6}

The organization was founded in 2017 by Lendri Purcell and Nichole Warwick as a social media and advocacy group to educate parents on the dangers of toxics on children’s health. ⁷

FACTS campaigns focus on reducing air pollution and the alleged dangers of Wi-Fi, 5G, “electromagnetic exposure,” and toxic smoke exposures. The organization works with the Environmental Health Trust, a left-of-center think tank that focuses on research and policy regarding environmental health. ⁸

FACTS is also a founding member of Sonoma Safe Agriculture Safe Schools, a group of community organizations that act as a “watchdog” for pesticide usage in Sonoma County, California. ⁹

Political Activities

Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety notes on its website that it supports the left-wing Black Lives Matter movement. ^{10 11}

FACTS signed a letter to President Joe Biden regarding fossil fuels and his 2020 presidential election campaign commitments to environmentalism. ¹² The letter called on Biden to act upon his “promise to ban all new oil and gas leasing, drilling, and fracking on federal lands and waters.” It called for him to declare a “climate emergency” under the National Emergencies Act to reinstate the ban on crude oil exports, and to redirect disaster relief funding to “renewable energy construction in frontline communities.” ¹³

The organization was also a signatory of another letter calling for Congress to pass the Green New Deal, various legislative proposals that are supported by left-wing environmentalist groups. ¹⁴

People

Lendri Purcell, the granddaughter of Donald and Barbara Jonas, is a current co-vice-president for Jonas Philanthropies, a center-left grant making foundation that focuses on health care and providing scholarships for doctoral nurses. ¹⁵

Purcell is an advisory board member to the Jonas Nursing and Veterans Healthcare at Columbia University School of Nursing and was an advisory board member of Safe Passages, a left-of-center organization that focuses on children in poverty by using “social justice” as a core principle. Purcell also sits on the board of directors for Sonoma Safe Agriculture Safe Schools (SASS). ^{16 17 18}

1. “About FACTS.” FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Safety. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.factstoaction.org/about-facts.html.
2. “About Us 2.” Jonas Philanthropies. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://jonasphilanthropies.org/about-us-2/.
3. 600 Organizations Ask Congress for Green New Deal.” RootsAction. January 11, 2019. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://rootsaction.org/news-a-views/1946-600-organizations-ask-congress-for-green-new-deal.
4. “Our Letter to President Biden.” BuildBackFossilFree. February 24, 2022. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://buildbackfossilfree.org/letter/.
5. “About FACTS.” FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Sa. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.factstoaction.org/about-facts.html.
6. “FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Safety.” Home. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.factstoaction.org/.
7. “About FACTS.” FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Safety. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.factstoaction.org/about-facts.html.
8. “Current Campaigns.” FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Safety. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.factstoaction.org/current-campaigns.html.
9. “About.” Sonoma Safe Ag Safe Schools. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.sonomasass.org/about
10. “About FACTS.” FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Safety. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.factstoaction.org/about-facts.html.
11. “Black Lives Matters Violence Undermines Its Credibility.” The Federalist. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://thefederalist.com/2016/07/12/black-lives-matters-violence-undermines-its-credibility/.
12. “Our Letter to President Biden.” BuildBackFossilFree. February 24, 2022. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://buildbackfossilfree.org/letter/.
13. “Our Letter to President Biden.” BuildBackFossilFree. February 24, 2022. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://buildbackfossilfree.org/letter/.
14. “600 Organizations Ask Congress for Green New Deal.” RootsAction. January 11, 2019. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://rootsaction.org/news-a-views/1946-600-organizations-ask-congress-for-green-new-deal.
15. “About Us 2.” Jonas Philanthropies. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://jonasphilanthropies.org/about-us-2/.
16. “Our Team.” FACTS Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Safety. Accessed May 16, 2022. www.factstoaction.org/our-team.html.
17. “About.” SafePassages. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://safepassages.org/about/.
18. “SASS Board.” SafePassages. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://www.sonomasass.org/sassboard.