PBP is thrilled to have received -- for the third consecutive year -- a grant from the Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation.  This grant represents approximately 15% of PBP's annual budget and will be instrumental in helping PBP to achieve its aggressive goals.  

 

Gardiner Howland Shaw was a native Bostonian. He joined the United States Department of State after graduating from Harvard. His primary foreign service was in Turkey, where he first became interested in the rehabilitation of criminal offenders. After retiring as Assistant Secretary of State in 1945, Mr. Shaw devoted the rest of his life to adult and juvenile corrections.

 

The Shaw Foundation was established in 1959. The Shaw Trustees are committed to funding initiatives that demonstrate a current awareness of important problems confronting our criminal and juvenile justice systems. The foundation is committed to making grants that can make a real difference in the way our justice system operates. 

 

Thanks to the Trustees for seeing PBP as a critical link for incarcerated people looking to build skills, prepare for community re-entry, and reduce their risk of recidivism.

Even with the financial assistance of the Shaw Foundation, your donation (in any amount) is still critical -- please give today. 
 

Hold your own drive: Chances are your co-workers, neighbors, family and friends have books collecting dust around their homes. Hold a drive at your school, church, office, neighborhood or anywhere else you hang out. Then bring the books to Boston (South Station area) on the day of the event.  

 

Help us spread the word: Do you work in the South Station/Leather District/Downtown area?  Contact the appropriate people in your company or office building about advertising the drive.  

 

For complete information, visit www.prisonbookprogram.org/bookdrive

Are you a photography student or a professional photographer?  Or even a really good amateur photographer?  We're looking for someone to photograph upcoming volunteer sessions as well as the Book Drive on October 3rd.  If you're interested, please contact us at info@prisonbookprogram.org.

When asked why books are so important to prisoners, my answer would surely be a reflection of my own person experience.

Myself, as well as many other inmates between the ages of 18-25, has spent an enormous amount of time involved in the illegal activity of the inner-city.  Needless to say, a lot of us are not too familiar with the library.  Time spent in prison should be used to take a look at oneself, and make the necessary changes in his/her life that could prevent them from repeating the mistakes that led to their incarceration.  That is, of course, my opinion.  Moreover, what better way to start the transformation of an individual than to educate them?  I myself enjoy reading books on self-help, religion, history, psychology and art. 

A dictionary would probably be considered a "must have" among inmates.  One reason would be that, due to the amount of letter writing we do, a dictionary comes in handy if the spelling of a word has been forgotten.  Many inmates also prepare their own petitions to the courts, and may not know the meaning of some words included in the responses they receive.  Also when reading, it's always good to have a dictionary around in case you come across an unfamiliar word. 

I would have to say that the book that made the biggest impact on me while I've been in prison is Ancient Egypt: Light of the Word by Gerald Massey.  This is because it was amazing to find out about all the contributions made toward the civilization of man by Africans in Antiquity.  This along with the fact that I am of African descent, has led me into a new field of study.  

 

Carlton McCready,
LaBelle, PA

 

June Stats 
 

Prisoners served:
414

 

 Books sent:

828

 

Volunteer sessions:

143

 

Letters Waiting:

2327

 

 

Prisoners served:

3020

 

Books sent:

6040

 

Volunteer sessions:

989

   

 

 

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