United Thank Offering Awards $55,000 Grant to Implement and Manage New Programs

United Thank Offering announced the grant recipients for the 2023 granting cycle, and we are excited to share that Bridges Reentry will receive funding to fully implement and manage the Raising My Voice, My Financial Academy, and Transition to Success programs. The focus of the granting process this year was “those who society has left out and left behind. In the spirit of Matthew 25:36, the UTO grant focus for 2023 will be on innovative mission and ministry projects addressing all aspects regarding the worldwide incarceration crisis, specifically: preventative programs, intervention; prisoner support outreach; prison reform work; or post-prison re-entry.”

Approximately 2,000 women are released each year from Perryville State Prison, Goodyear, AZ. When women are released from jail or prison, they are often ill-prepared to reencounter the serious problems they faced prior to incarceration, such as domestic violence, an unstable family life, difficulties in school, limited work experience, financial issues, poverty, substance use disorders, mental health issues, a lack of vocational skills, and parenting difficulties.

Bridges Reentry piloted three programs to integrate existing housing and mentoring programs with long-term, life skills. Raising My Voice trains women to tell stories as advocates; My Financial Academy provides financial literacy; and Transition to Success helps women understand trauma and navigate reentry care. My Financial Academy and Transition to Success will be conducted at the Second Chance Center inside the prison and outside with released mentees and Magdalene residents. Raising My Voice will be conducted by survivors with justice-involved women on the outside. These programs allow Bridges Reentry to offer a complete holistic approach for successful pathways to reentry.

“The worldwide incarceration crisis affects us all, whether or not we know someone directly affected by incarceration. Jesus’s words in Matthew 25 and the Way of Love encourage us to work for justice in the world and to respect the dignity of every human being, including prisoners and their families. The grants UTO funded this year will create that ministry in new places around the world. UTO would love to be able to fund every grant application we receive, so please spread the practice of gratitude in your parish and community, continue to be grateful for the blessings in your life, and make your thank offerings to UTO,” shared Sherri Dietrich, UTO Board President.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant to support the full implementation of these three programs that have shown success in the pilot phase. We continue to curate the most effective programs, experts, and resources for each woman as she courageously meets the challenges of reentry” Gay Romack, Founder and Executive Director.

About The United Thank Offering

The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, individuals are invited to embrace and deepen a personal daily spiritual discipline of gratitude. UTO encourages people to notice the good things that happen each day, give thanks to God for those blessings, and make an offering for each blessing using a UTO Blue Box. UTO is entrusted to receive the offerings, and to distribute 100% of what is collected to support innovative mission and ministry throughout The Episcopal Church and Provinces of the Anglican Communion.

For more information:

The Rev. Canon Heather Melton

Staff Officer, The United Thank Offering

917.771.3366

hmelton@episcopalchurch.org

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/united-thank-offering