Table of ContentsOur MissionEye on <strong>Fortune</strong>Faces of <strong>Fortune</strong>News from the DRCPP and <strong>The</strong> Word in ReformIntroducing <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong>'s Better Living CenterOn the Record - Notes from our Founder, David RothenbergCenter Stage“Suffering in Solitary", by James Ridgeway and Jean Casella of Solitary Watch<strong>The</strong> Last WordIn the Next Issue113457891010Our MisssionEye on <strong>Fortune</strong><strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong>'s mission is to support successfulreentry from prison and promote alternatives toincarceration, thus strengthening the fabric ofour communities.WE DO THIS BY :Believing in the power of individuals to change;Building lives through service programs shapedby the needs and experience of our clients; andChanging lives through education and advocacyto promote the creation of a fair, humane and trulyrehabilitative correctional system.YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS RAISEOVER $69,000 AT <strong>THE</strong> <strong>FORTUNE</strong>SOCIETY'S SECOND ANNUAL SPRINGSOIREECONTACT212.691.7554info@fortunesociety.org.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong>29-76 Northern BoulevardLong Island City, NY 11101To learn more, please visit usat www.fortunesociety.orgcontact us by phone or email, , orsimply stop by our Long IslandCity location!Walk-in hours: Monday throughFriday, 8:00AM–4:00PM.On May 16th, 2012, hundreds of youngphilanthropists came together at TrumpSoho in Manhattan in support of <strong>The</strong><strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong> at the Second AnnualSpring Soiree. Hosted by <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong><strong>Society</strong> Board's Junior Committee, <strong>The</strong>Leadership Foundation and youngphilanthropists Luke Weil and LouiseTabbiner, the event raised more than$69,000 to support services that help<strong>Fortune</strong>'s clients successfully re-entertheir communities after serving time inprisons and jail.1 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> News www.fortunesociety.org
Eye on <strong>Fortune</strong> (cont.)"We are thrilled that we were able totop last year's results," said Luke Weil,co-chair of the event. "It is gratifying tosee that our generation can make adifference," Weil added.<strong>The</strong> Spring Soiree event included a 30-minute set by Grammy-nominatedsinger-songwriter John Forte,accompanied by a five-piece band. Atone point, Ben Taylor, themusician/actor son of James Taylor andCarly Simon, joined Forte and his band.Renowned artist DJ Layela (formerMiss Colombia) also performed.CHEF MARCUS SAMUELSSON COOKSUP INTEREST IN HEALTHY EATINGAT <strong>THE</strong> <strong>FORTUNE</strong> SOCIETY'S CASTLEGARDENSOn May 17th 2012, MarcusSamuelsson, owner of the Red RoosterHarlem and Ginny's Supper Club,stopped by <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong>'sCastle Gardens to discuss theimportance of healthy eating andprovide cooking tips to <strong>Fortune</strong> clientsand community members. <strong>The</strong>program was a part of <strong>Fortune</strong>'songoing efforts to promotehealthy living."It does make a difference what weeat," said Samuelsson, who doescooking demonstrations once a monththroughout Harlem as a way to givesomething back to the community.Samuelsson provided practical tips forincorporating healthy eating. Forexample, he told the group that eatingfoods such as fried chicken is okay, buthe encouraged eating it with a saladrather than a side of macaroniand cheese.He showed the group how to prepare asalad that is crisp and full of texture. Healso cautioned them against drowningthe salad in dressing before it was timeto serve. <strong>The</strong>se small adjustments canmake a significant nutritionaldifference. JoAnne Page, president andCEO of the <strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong>, wasimpressed by the reaction Samuelssonreceived from the group. “He gotpeople excited about salad,” she said.“What more could you ask?”<strong>THE</strong> <strong>FORTUNE</strong> SOCIETY CELEBRATES10TH ANNIVERSARY OF <strong>THE</strong><strong>FORTUNE</strong> ACADEMYOn June 18th, 2012, more than onehundred members of New York City'sphilanthropic, government, businessand Broadway communities joined <strong>The</strong><strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong> to celebrate the 10thanniversary of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> Academy(also known as the Castle), a WestHarlem supportive housing programthat, over the last decade, has providedcritical services to more than 1,000formerly incarcerated men and womenwho were homeless when they came to<strong>Fortune</strong>. Former New Jersey GovernorJames McGreevey and award-winningactresses Linda Lavin and Nilaja Sunwere on-hand and served as event cochairs.<strong>Fortune</strong> transformed the Castle from aformerly abandoned drug den into aplace of hope in 2002. Today, the Castleis a 62-bed residential housing facilityfor people who have served time andare homeless. Staff members are onhand 24 hours a day and provide abroad array of support services to helpresidents address the multiplechallenges that confront them. Everyresident also participates in <strong>Fortune</strong><strong>Society</strong> programs to assist them intheir successful transition back to thecommunity. Programs includeeducation, career developmentand counseling.While the project was initially met withresistance from the community, in theensuing decade, it has been embracedby the neighborhood and serves as animportant community anchorand resource.In fact, the success of the Castle pavedthe path for <strong>Fortune</strong>'s newestsupportive housing project, CastleGardens, a “green” permanent housingand service facility opened in 2010 thatprovides affordable housing andservices to formerly incarceratedindividuals and low-income families.“Ten years ago, against all the odds,<strong>Fortune</strong> opened the doors to the Castle.It has become a place of hope wheremore than 1,000 deserving men andwomen have found a true secondchance and most importantly, a place tocall home,” said JoAnne Page, CEO andPresident of the <strong>Fortune</strong> <strong>Society</strong>.“Finding a home is one of the first andmost important steps towardrebuilding lives, and Castle residentshave demonstrated that with strongsupport and resources, they canbecome contributing membersof society.”<strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> community of staff, friends, and partners came together this June to celebrate two incredible milestones–the birthday of our founder, David Rothenberg (4th from left, above), and the 10 year anniversary of "<strong>The</strong> Castle".2 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> News www.fortunesociety.org
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