VIP MENTORS NEWS

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Please make a secure online donation RIGHT NOW to support VIP Mentors. Click on the icon below:

 

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VIP's mission is to restore human lives, with the social and economic benefits of building safer communities. The following community leaders support VIP:

Holly J. Fujie, Former President, State Bar of California
Hon. Stephen A. Marcus, Judge, Superior Court, County of Los Angeles
Hon. William K. Hamlin, Judge, Superior Court, Fresno County
Hon. Dale Ikeda, Judge, Superior Court, Fresno County
Hon. Arlan L. Harrell, Judge, Superior Court, Fresno County
Hon. James P. Gray, Judge (Ret.), Superior Court, Orange County
Hon. David De Alba, Judge, Superior Court, Sacramento County
Hon. Gary E. Ransom, Judge (Ret.), Superior Court, Sacramento County
Steve Cooley, District Attorney, County of Los Angeles
Michael P. Judge, Public Defender, County of Los Angeles
Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff, County of Los Angeles
Paulino G. Duran, Public Defender, Office of the Public Defender, Sacramento County
Chad Carlock, Vice President, Yolo County Bar Association
...and others!

To read the letters in support of VIP Mentors penned by the above, please CLICK HERE to download/view the ADOBE PDF file.

 

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VIP Statistics

VIP proudly serves a diverse group of formerly incarcerated youth and adults.

Among the 231 men and 172 women served, the following were represented:

• African-Americans (26%)

• Asians (6%)

• Latinos (32%)

• Native Americans (2%)

• Caucasians (34%)

Nearly half of the participants were parents:

• 41% of the men

• 59% of the women

Commitment offenses involved:

• Violence against individuals (44%),

• Crimes against property (22%),

• Drugs (22%)

• Other (12%).
  

Less than 6% of all VIP participants return to custody for new crimes. More than 70% of VIP participants achieve personal goals including; securing employment, advancement in education, and becoming better parents.

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"There is someone I can turn to who will not judge me but will listen and offer suggestions. What has VIP done for me? It has given me hope." -- VIP Mentee

"Outside was a whole different world, different values, responsibilities. It was lonely…scary. I never felt like anyone really cared about me before." -- VIP Mentee

"Many thought my mentee was a lost cause; they weren't going to give him any more chances. All those people who didn't believe, he proved them wrong!" -- VIP Mentor

"Every lawyer gets back more than he or she gives."
-- James E. Herman, former president of the State Bar of California

 

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VIP Mentors thanks the Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation (Fresno, California) for its generous grant to VIP Mentors to fund TOPS (Targeting Obstacles to Personal Success) Scholarships for VIP mentees, and to provide resources for social and educational group activities. We thank the Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation for supporting the VIP Mentors Fresno program for over 10 years.

 

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