Gordon Philanthropies Donates First-Ever Children’s Library in Collaboration With the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department
LOS ANGELES, September 18, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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Gordon Philanthropies, Inc. and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department have collaborated to build the first-ever children’s library located inside the Visitor Center at Men’s Central Jail. The library will offer incarcerated fathers at Men’s Central the opportunity to bond with their children through reading together. Gordon Philanthropies Founder Dan Gordon, LA Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell, and more gathered to dedicate the library to bringing families closer through the gift of reading and to encourage young readers to aim for the stars.
“This library is for children and families to provide support, comfort, and nourishment to young people and families in need. Like the other libraries and community book initiatives we sponsor, our mission is to provide family-oriented educational opportunities to children who pertain to underserved and under-resourced communities. Gordon Philanthropies firmly believes that education and family involvement are the ingredients children require to go on and live truly fulfilling and productive lives. Our organization hopes that this modest effort can contribute to those needs,” said Gordon Philanthropies Founder Dan Gordon.
Libraries like this are needed, as there are nearly 2.7 million children across the nation who have been reported to have at least one parent in prison. Positive visitation experiences have been reported to be incredibly beneficial for both the child and incarcerated parent alike, with those who received visitors less likely to be reincarcerated than those who did not. When children are provided child-friendly visitation opportunities, improved emotional adjustment, better behavior in school, and other benefits often follow.
“One of the best ways to insure against recidivism of those who are incarcerated is to ensure that the ties that bind the incarcerated to their families remain intact. Moreover, there are few forces more powerful than a child’s love for their parents,” said LA Superior Judge Craig Mitchell.
Receiving over 250 visitors per day, the Children’s Library is designed to provide all visiting children with a warm, accommodating area in which they have the option to indulge in reading or enjoy the serenity of playing a variety of board games. Filled with an ample array of books also donated by Gordon Philanthropies, the library aims to supply children of all ages with literary enjoyment in a carefully curated space that caters to their needs.
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Founded in 2020, Gordon Philanthropies, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to utilizing its resources to emphasize the importance of literacy and education by donating books and creating welcoming reading spaces in underserved and under-resourced communities. Gordon Philanthropies is deeply committed to promoting the value of reading, literacy, and access to equitable education regardless of race and socioeconomic factors that can inhibit a child’s learning journey. To learn more, please visit: https://gordonphilanthropies.org/.
Source: Gordon Philanthropies
