Louisiana Parole Project hosted our fourth annual Redemption Luncheon on Tuesday, August 27, at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge with nearly 450 community leaders, donors, and supporters in attendance. The event’s theme, “Laying Foundations, Rebuilding Lives,” focused on the importance of second-chance hiring opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. The program provided an opportunity for attendees to get a firsthand view of our organization’s impact, meet clients, and watch a video featuring the experiences of both clients and supporters.
The keynote address was delivered by our client Eldridge and his employer Gail Nolan, CEO of Tri-Parish Sand and Gravel. While she had hired a formerly incarcerated person once before, Nolan was still a bit hesitant before interviewing Eldridge. But when they began talking, she looked at the opportunity differently.
“I thought about how God wants us to view people through His lens,” she said. “So I took a chance and extended that grace to someone else.”
Eldridge said Nolan had already made her decision to hire him shortly into the conversation, although he didn’t realize it at first. “She was talking about onboarding,” he said with a chuckle. “I’d been locked up for almost 24 years — I had no idea what onboarding meant.”
Nolan said Eldridge was an eager, dedicated worker from day one. As she watched him excel, she created more opportunities by hiring three more formerly incarcerated job seekers. “I have four formerly incarcerated employees and I’m proud to say they are some of our best employees,” she said. “What we do is a hard job. It’s such a delight to work with people who have that burning desire in their hearts.”
Eldridge emphasized the importance of second chance hiring. “We’re out of prison because of changes we made in our lives, but we need an opportunity,” he said. “So I ask you to all to just take a chance on the next man or woman that comes in. Give us an opportunity to prove that we are rehabilitated, that we are worthy of a second chance, that we can be taxpayers, law-abiding citizens, and a good neighbor. We just need an opportunity to show you all who we are.”
Parole Project is proud to announce that the 2024 Redemption Luncheon raised more than $160,000 — a new record for the annual event. All funds raised directly support Parole Project’s mission to enhance public safety and help formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives. We are grateful for everyone who attended and donated because they believe in second chances. Thank you for helping to change lives.
If you missed the 2024 Redemption Luncheon or want to relive the experience, click here to watch a video recap of the program.
