The Boston Bar Foundation announced today that the non-profit organization
Roca will receive the 2016 Public Service Award at the annual John
and Abigail Adams Benefit on January 30, 2016. Roca will be honored during the event, and the
Foundation will donate $25,000 in support of Roca's mission.
Using the empowering slogan "Less Jail, More Future," Roca works to reduce
recidivism and improve employment among a population of young men at high risk
of reoffending in Boston, Chelsea and Springfield.
Last year, Roca and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts launched The
Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Pay for Success Initiative – a cutting edge
program that will allow Roca to reach more than 900 at-risk individuals with its
outreach, education and employment programming. Roca projects that through
this project, 248 incarcerations will be avoided (224,205 days of
incarceration), amounting to a 45% reduction in incarcerations among the
targeted population and a gross savings of $22 million to the Commonwealth.
"We are deeply honored to receive this award from the Boston Bar Foundation.
Roca's work of helping justice system-involved young people overcome their
challenges could never be done without the tremendous contribution of lawyers
and legal professionals, many of whom are Boston Bar Association members," said
Molly Baldwin, Roca’s Founder & CEO. "For this reason, BBF’s recognition of
Roca carries tremendous meaning. It is further confirmation of the legal
profession’s central role in creating a more just, safe and equitable society."
Roca's mission is in harmony with work advanced by the BBA and the BBF, such
as the Reentry
Education Program and policy efforts on sentencing
reform.
"Roca's work in the areas of criminal justice reform and mass incarceration
is truly innovative and inspiring, and I’m proud to represent the BBF in
honoring them at the Adams Benefit," said Boston Bar Foundation President Lisa
Goodheart.
Held annually, the John
and Abigail Adams Benefit is the premiere fundraising gala for the Boston
Bar Foundation and the legal community. 100% of the event’s proceeds are used to
support local organizations that provide legal services to those in need. In
June, the Foundation announced that, using proceeds from the 2015 event, it was
awarding $950,000
in grants to 23 legal services organizations throughout Greater
Boston.