Bridgeway's Fundraising Page
Partners,
Through our involvement in Cherish Our Children International (COCI), Gabrielle and I have had the privilege of meeting an extraordinary group of kids on the north side of town. These kids, all of whom have incarcerated parents, participate in programs through a non-profit called No More Victims, Inc. (NMVI). COCI has partnered with NMVI the past three years and adopted it as one of it’s signature partners this year. COCI has committed to raise $15,000 for them in 2010.
As many of you know Gabrielle and I worked this past summer creating Reason2Race. Part of the structure is to give the athletes raising funds the opportunity to meet the kids they are impacting. In addition, the kids from NMVI volunteered at several of our Triathlon events. The impact it had on both the kids and the athletes was amazing. We now have several of the kids wanting to train for an event. Also, we had one of our athletes insist on taking a picture with one of the kids to carry it with her during her Ironman event so when it got tough she could look at it to remind her of the difference she was making by them being her Reason2Race.
Below are some of the statistics these kids face:
- Nationally, 7.3 million children have at least one parent in jail or prison. Sadly, 70 percent of these kids are doomed to follow in the same footsteps as their parents, becoming imprisoned at some point in their lives.
Statistics provided by consultant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation
- In Texas over half of state & federal prisoners (approx. 700,000) have at least one minor child and one third have more than one child.
- 1.5 million Texas children have a parent incarcerated in state or federal prison; the highest percentage of these children reside in Harris county, with Houston leading all Texas cities with 6,617 children with incarcerated parents.
- African-American children are almost 9 times more likely to have a parent in prison.
- Hispanic children 3 times more likely.
- One estimate says as many as 70% of children in L/T foster care had a parent incarcerated.
NMVI success:
- 1,000 children have participated since this program’s inception in 1993. Absent this program, 85% of these children would have predictably followed in their parents steps and now be incarcerated. Rather, only 3% suffered their parents’ same fate.
Gabrielle and I wanted to extend an invitation to you to support this great group of kids and the impact that NMVI has in their lives. We have made a contribution of $5,000 to get things started we invite you to help us reach the goal of $15,000.
Additionally Gabrielle and I created an opportunity that between now and Thursday November 18 ALL donations, or your commitment towards making a contribution, will be matched by the Janus Charity Challenge. Please let us know your intent.
We have set up this website where you can make a donation with a credit card, or you can write a personal check or a grant from your donor advised fund to:
Cherish Our Children International
Attn: Maria Montes
P.O. Box 540007
Houston, Texas 77254
TID # 76-0393617
We will also be planning a visit for you to meet the kids in person so you can be inspired, like our athletes, with the difference your commitment makes in their lives. We will let you know these details later.
Thank you,
Bill and Gabrielle