Gordon Philanthropies and Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) bring the holiday spirit to mothers as they record their voices for their children.

Thanks to Gordon Philanthropies’ partnership with Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) located in Lynwood, the Education Based Incarceration and Gender Responsive Services held a book audiorecording event for mothers who are incarcerated. This year’s book, Besos de Sol, Abrasos de Luna by Susan Shaefer Bernardo, were recorded with the help of GP volunteers and later mailed home to their children accompanied by a personal letter.

“It’s not the norm for most of them to pick up a children’s book, so it was a heartfelt experience,” said EBI’s Officer Haley-Graham, who assisted with recording the mothers.

Gordon Philanthropies Program Director, Sylvia Beanes, shared, “When the first young woman walked into the room, she greeted me kindly. I explained what we were about to do and tears streamed down her face. This made my heart ache, as I could feel her love for her kids in every breath she exhaled as she read the book. I saw the pain in her eyes and understood just how much she missed her kids.”

This audio recording event was the best way to start one of the most beloved holidays around the globe. Volunteers and staff worked tireless to make sure that the children received their letter and recording from their mother’s or grandmother’s before Christmas Day.

One mother from CRDF wrote a letter thanking Gordon Philanthropies for the experience:

First and foremost, I am humbled to receive this precious bilingual book and the recording that I will be presenting to my granddaughter for Christmas. We received the package in our mailbox today.

We were hit with a tragic event during the first of this year that caused my daughter to be incarcerated due to her mental health. While we are fighting for her freedom, we are astonished by your kindness and by what you are doing through your foundation for women who are incarcerated. It breaks my heart that the women who are incarcerated are already struggling being in there in addition to having no access to their children.

On a positive note, I am blessed that the women in jail, including my daughter, have resources like yours to bring a smile to the faces of their children, who can hear their mothers’ voices through a recording.

Again, I want to express how thankful our family is for your generosity and extended kindness. I cannot wait to see my granddaughter’s face when she hears her mom’s voice reading the book. I was in tears while reading the book and listening to my daughter’s voice. They were happy tears over the fact that something like this existed and was a brilliant idea.

Thank you again. Sending light, love, grace, and God’s blessing to you and your staff.

“It is a great honor to stand in partnership with CRDF, and the Education Based Incarceration and Gender Responsive Services. The endless work to support women who are incarcerated day in and day out is a necessity. There are children whose parents will be missing at the dinner table this Christmas due to incarceration. We feel a responsibility to support the bond between a parent and child, through the power of reading, and treat it as sacred,” expressed Daniel Gordon, Founder of Gordon Philanthropies.