Amity Foundation's 10th Annual Celebration of Freedom Announces 2nd Chance Federal Grant Award

LOS ANGELES, July 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amity Foundation's 10th annual 4th of July 'Celebration of Freedom' will recognize and honor numerous community leaders and contributions to the Los Angeles area.  City Councilwomen Jan Perry on behalf of the City of Los Angeles stated, "I am pleased to recognize and congratulate Amity on your Celebration of Freedom 2010.  The dedication to the Amity Mission of assisting families marginalized by addiction, crime, incarceration, poverty, racism, sexism, trauma and violence helps to further the common goal of making the City of Los Angeles a better place."  The Celebration will be at Amity's downtown campus, "Amistad" at 3750 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA. For more information about the Celebration: 213.400.4243.

Among notable recognitions there will also be two Key Announcements. The new LA County based, U.S. Dept. of Justice funded 'Second Chance Act' will implement mentoring and education in LA County Jail, and the recent unfortunate closure of the Just In Reach (JIR) project, also an LA County Jail based program.

The work Amity Foundation has done in the Los Angeles County Jail as part of a collaboration of community based organizations, called Just In Reach (JIR) will also be recognized.  On July 1, 2010, this project ended due to the California's ongoing budget crisis.  Over 600 men and women were able to receive services at Amity directly when they left the jail, including continuance services at the Amity's LA-Amistad campus, enabling them to reenter society successfully as healthy, productive Los Angeles citizens. "Good citizenship and community building is at the forefront of Amity's work," stated Mark Faucette, Vice President of Amity Foundation.

To continue badly needed services in the LA County Jail, Amity applied for and was awarded the U.S. Dept. of Justice grant 'Second Chance Act', which uses a mentoring model to provide services to those with drug and criminal histories.

"Particularly in these troubled economic times there is a critical need in Los Angeles for many of us to make a larger investment in the men and women that are rejoining society from correctional environments. For more than 30 years Amity has promoted a pro family policy designed to impact and restore intergenerational criminogenic families to pro social community values," stated Amity's Mark Faucette. Effective mentoring is a primary intervention to giving hope and assisting individuals with addiction/criminal histories to build new lives that are healthy and productive."

The annual event serves as an Amity Alumni Reunion and has often been attended by up to 1000 clean and sober, graduated students of The Amity Foundation. "It's a real opportunity for Amity and the Community to see the results of the hard work Amity and these individuals who have made the journey from former lives of addiction to contributing members of society as parents, students, brothers and sisters," Mark Faucette, VP of Amity Foundation said. The event will feature musical entertainment, children's games, and a chance to strengthen connections to those who assisted in their success.

We will continue to invite guests for informational events. Your recommendation for our next guest list is also welcome.

SOURCE Amity Foundation