FAMM logo [[link removed]]
Follow us:
Dear friend,

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I can't wait to eat homemade tamales with my family on Christmas Day next week. There's going to be at least 40 of us gathering, making meaningful memories and sharing the season. But I wouldn't be here without having been given a second chance.

During this season of giving, I'm wondering if you'd consider a gift to FAMM. With your gift, we can fight for more people to get second chances like I did — second chances that will bring them home for the holidays. [link removed] [[link removed]]

The biggest misconception about former prisoners is that we're still living the lifestyle that got us into trouble and being incarcerated. That we are dangerous. The truth is, we do not want to go back again. We had to do the time and we remember what that was like — especially during the holidays. Now, we're focused on making our families and our communities stronger and healthier.

A little bit about my story: Growing up, I had big dreams for the future. I liked writing, fashion, and design, and I went to school for accounting. In college, I had a boyfriend who sold drugs, and I made the terrible decision to sell drugs, too. I was arrested and convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession of cocaine/crack. I was 24, and I was sentenced to ten years in federal prison.

Fortunately, I benefited when Congress passed the CARES Act, which allowed people like me who were determined to be low risk to go to home confinement if we had served at least half of our sentences. I was ultimately released from home confinement on January 14, 2022. So this is my first year of true freedom during the holidays. Freedom to travel to see my father in Texas. Freedom to go to my mother's house and eat tamales on Christmas Day. Freedom to see all the people I want to see.

The gift that I want to give most of all this Christmas season, to everyone, is the gift of awareness that people can change, that people deserve second chances. Getting a second chance is a blessing, and we want to prove more than anything that we deserve it. By giving to FAMM, you help give this gift to others.

Will you give to FAMM today to help them reach their goal of raising $200,000 by December 31? [link removed] [[link removed]]

Thank you,

Cecilia Cardenas, FAMM Advocate
1100 H Street NW | Suite 1000 | Washington, D.C. xxxxxx | Tel: (202) 822-6700
FAMM © 2022 All rights reserved.Donate [[link removed]] | Visit our website [[link removed]] | unsubscribe: [link removed]