BETHLEHEM, June 13 – State Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Delaware/Phila., presented two scholarships today on behalf of the Latin American Cultural Exchange Organization Art and Outreach and United Community Action Network.
LACEO and U-CAN are two groups of inmates from State Correctional Institution Graterford who work to better themselves and repay their debt to society.
The scholarships were funded by the inmates entirely from their salaries, which total 18 cents an hour. The offenders gave up their entire pay to put together two $500 scholarships for William Sanchez and Joshua Solivan, and recognized the two Northeast Middle School students for their hard work to turn their lives around.
“Imagine giving up your entire paycheck – what you need to eat a snack or even just to buy soap with – and giving it to students who you don’t want to make the same life mistakes you did,” Waters said. “This scholarship is one of truly giving back, and I applaud the offenders at Graterford for their hard work to bestow it.”
The men at Graterford were motivated by the influx of so many young Latino and African-American young men coming into the prison and they wanted to help to stop this terrible trend.
“These two young men represent stories of hope and redemption – just as the stories of the men at the Graterford facility who are working to turn their lives around and do the right thing,” Waters said.
The members of L.A.C.E.O. and U-CAN recognized the students for their hard work to change and better themselves. To ensure the money goes right to the student’s education, the scholarship funds are to be placed in the student’s account at the college so that they can withdraw from it for books and materials for school.
Waters said L.A.C.E.O. and U-CAN want to specifically recognize the Bethlehem School District for being the only district who responded to the scholarship offer.
They do this by outreach to students about the dangers on the street which may lead to incarceration
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