TSR Exclusive Details: Kim Kardashian’s giant charitable gift from Kanye West and fam really will do some good!
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition exclusively tells us that the $250,000 portion its organization received from Kanye’s $1 million gift will help more than 1,200 formerly incarcerated people from returning to prison.
The money will specifically go to funding re-entry services such as case management services and trauma-informed therapeutic support groups as well as life-changing nature retreats for their members.
“We are deeply grateful for the continued support and partnership of Kim Kardashian West, Kanye West, and their family in the form of a generous financial gift,” said Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) Executive Director, Sam Lewis. “Kim has visited women with us inside prison at California Institution of Women (CIW) and has spent time with our women members in the community, exhibiting an understanding of the unique needs of women who have gone through the system. She continues to approach this movement with compassion and a value system in step with the belief that formerly and currently incarcerated people are humans worthy of fair treatment and opportunities.”
Lewis added that Women are the fastest growing population in U.S. prisons, and their needs both in and out of the system are left largely unaddressed.
“Many women in our communities have been doing incredible work to improve the lives of system-impacted people, those who are incarcerated and those who have returned home. Kim’s use of her platform to uplift and support formerly and currently incarcerated people across the country is a crucial part of changing the narrative around people directly impacted by the system.”
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition was one of four organizations to receive a slice of that $1 million donation. The other three organizations are CUT 50, Buried Alive Project and the Equal Justice Initiative.
Kim has a special relationship with CUT 50 as she has worked with their team as a legal apprentice since October 2018.
CUT 50 was the driving force behind the passing of The First Step Act, which was introduced last year and signed into law by the current administration. In less than a year, they have been able to free about 7,000 people under that bill.
CUT 50 National Director Michael Mendoza thanks Kim and her family for bringing these issues to the mainstream and for throwing her support behind him and other former incarcerated people in leadership positions as it shows the public can invest in them because of their experiences and expertise.
“Her support is a huge relief in changing the narrative,” Mendoza said. “We can support the movement by helping people that are closer to the problem in coming up with solutions. It’s so meaningful.”
Mendoza continued, “The more people see us coming home and transitioning successfully, the more former incarcerated people will become civically engaged and get involved. It sets the tone and it wasn’t like that before because of the lack of support.”
