As you know, small business owners are the backbone of communities around the country. Your support of these businesses will help to fuel economic impact for minority and women businesses in the communities that you serve and where your employees live. These same businesses are potential suppliers of the products and services that support your organization. These businesses will invest locally, hire and develop the community, and in some cases even source products or packaging locally; all to create lasting economic impact.

In this program, LSF helps detainees complete business plans while incarcerated, providing education and coaching, and continue to support their entrepreneurial efforts once they are released. Also, we help detainees with resume writing and interviewing skills. This education, coaching, and mentoring is key to the success of these individuals upon release.

In 2019-2020 we helped 150+ detainees. Close to 150 detainees received jobs upon release and a large number enrolled in local GED programs, started or resumed their business as well as obtained healthcare coverage. In November 2021, we completed 20 resumes and trained 6 detainees.

Our founder, Terrie, believes that some people just need a little guidance to become their best. She is the granddaughter of small business and landowners from Pickens County Alabama. She grew up running the family farm along with her four sisters and her Mother and Father.

As you can see there is much work to be done. Reaching detainees so that they don’t return back to jail or prison is not only a critical need, I believe it is our obligation. 

We want to increase our capacity to help recently released detainees find jobs and provide training on job readiness skills such as interviewing, professionalism, human error prevention, and soft skills.

In order to increase our capacity to serve we need your support!

Your generous support will assist Lewis Simmons Foundation in continuing to provide these much-needed programs.

We look forward to working alongside you as we pay it forward to those less fortunate.