Gordon Philanthropies and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Receive National Recognition Achievement Award.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) recently awarded Gordon Philanthropies and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department the 2024 Achievement Award in Criminal Justice and Public Safety category. This accolade acknowledges their collaborative efforts in establishing the Children’s Library Initiative. Through this initiative, Gordon Philanthropies and LASD have installed children’s libraries in all the visitor centers inside jails across Los Angeles County.

“We thank the National Association of Counties for their recognition of the work we have managed to do in collaboration with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. We are proud to be part of the many organizations committed nationwide to helping our communities thrive. This award attests to the hard work and passion our county officials and their staff invest in designing innovative and forward-thinking government program services. Our foundation equally extends our gratitude to Sheriff Robert Luna and his team for supporting us on this journey in helping bring the love of reading into every child’s life,” shared Dan Gordon, Founder of Gordon Philanthropies.

The NACo Achievement Award recognizes outstanding county government programs and services in 18 different categories for their contributions to the community. In partnership with LASD, the Children’s Library Initiative addresses the educational necessities of children with parents who are incarcerated. Gordon Philanthropies provides books tailored to every child’s interests, including bilingual and diverse literature, ensuring that every child’s needs are met.

“The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is honored to receive this prestigious award in the criminal justice and public safety category from the National Association of Counties, alongside with Gordon Philanthropies. This recognition underscores the importance of our collaborative efforts with the Children’s Library Initiative. By installing children’s libraries in all visitors’ centers inside jails across Los Angeles County, we are fostering a supportive environment for families, promoting literacy, and learning for children. This initiative affirms our commitment to positively impacting our community and ensuring that even in difficult circumstances, children have access to resources that inspire and educate,” shared Robert Luna, Head of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

Due to the large number of children with at least one parent in prison, positive visitation experiences have been found to be highly beneficial for both the child and incarcerated parent. Improved emotional adjustment, among better behavior in school, and other benefits are often observed when children have child-friendly visitation opportunities.

“Gordon Philanthropies commitment to giving back sets an inspiring example for us all. Their generosity delivers hope and positive change to inmates and their families. May their work continue to inspire us and create a compassionate and equitable world,” expressed Senator Mária Elena Durazo. 

Gordon Philanthropies and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department are honored by their recent recognition and remain committed to continue providing access to quality educational resources to all children for years to come.