Update

The Prison Society has been awarded a $100,000 Impact100 grant for our work supporting families and helping incarcerated people remain connected to their communities.

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The funding will help the Prison Society expand the impact of programs like our helpline, which is a lifeline for families seeking information and support to help incarcerated loved ones. Each week, we receive close to 200 calls from family members, as well as approximately 100 letters from incarcerated people asking for help. We are on track to answer 7,000 calls this year, but the need is much greater.

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“That’s why funding from Impact100 is so critical,” says Claire Shubik-Richards, the Prison Society’s executive director. “This competitive grant will allow us to raise awareness of our helpline in order to help more families.”

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It will also support our work helping keep families connected with incarcerated loved ones at a time when it is needed more than ever. It will help sustain our mentoring program for incarcerated people preparing to return to their communities, compensating for the loss of state funding that was discontinued last year. And it will help us continue the Philadelphia Prison Fatherhood Program, which helps teach incarcerated men how they can remain a supportive presence in the lives of their children and co-parents.

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“When I think about the additional people that we will be able to help and reach because of this generous grant, I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” says the Prison Society’s Family and Community Supporter Director. “Because of Impact100 we will be able to help more families during some of their most challenging days,” she adds.

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The Prison Society competed with 185 organizations for the grant and was one of three to receive the top $100,000 award. 

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Impact100 is a collective of philanthropic women in greater Philadelphia who award grants to organizations working to make the community more just, equitable, and healthy for everyone. The women were moved and inspired by the families and individuals supported by the Prison Society every day. On behalf of all the people we serve, we are immensely grateful for Impact100’s support.