REBUILDING FAMILIES
A portion of LPP's funding goes directly to recently released constituents to assist in their reentry, as well as to the families of our currently incarcerated constituents who are particularly in need of financial assistance while their loved one is incarcerated.
Since 2020 LPP has distributed over $1.5 million in grant funding.
Learn more about some of our grant recipients below.
Michael Thompson
After serving over 25 years a cannabis offense, in January 2021 Michael Thompson was released from a Michigan prison, where marijuana is now a legally regulated industry.
We are thrilled that Michael is able to reunite with his family, including two daughters, and grandchildren that he is getting to meet for the first time.
Through the LPP support fund Michael was able to cover costs associated with securing long term housing, a new wardrobe, and transportation.
Corvain Cooper
After serving eight years of a LIFE sentence for distributing cannabis, Corvain Cooper was granted clemency in January 2021 and reunited with his family and two young daughters, Cleer and Scotlyn.
With the financial assistance from LPP Corvain is working to rebuild his life, and has been able to assist his daughters with all of the resources they need to pursue their education.
Cleer says she is interested in majoring in either fashion or law, and Scotlyn shares her Dad's entrepreneurial spirit, having recently started her own hair accessories e-commerce site.
Richard DeLisi
After serving 32 years of a 90 year sentence for a cannabis offense, Richard DeLisi is finally free and home with his family.
After being released in December 2020, Richard was able to spend the holidays with his family for the first time in over three decades.
In February, he celebrated his 72nd birthday. He is thankful to LPP and all of those who donated to ensure he could successfully reintegrate into society and feel fully supported.
Venise LaChapelle
Venise's life was devastated when her mother, Evelyn, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for simply depositing funds from cannabis sales into her bank account. At the time, she was just three years old and would spend the next seven years without her mom.
Thankfully Evelyn was released in 2019 and is now rebuilding her life and her family. Through the LPP support fund Evelyn has been able to pay Venise's tuition payments.
Venise just completed fifth grade and will be moving on to middle school next year. Once the world re-opens she will be back to karate and piano lessons. She is already planning to attend performing art school for high school.
Michael David Knight
In 2006, Michael Knight was convicted of marijuana distribution and sentenced to 262 months in federal prison. In September, Michael's "good time" credits allowed him to transfer to a halfway house, where he will serve the remaining eight months of his sentence.
The reentry funds Last Prisoner Project has provided Michael have allowed him to pay for school, a driver's license, a used truck, and well as eye contacts. Were it not for this support, Michael—who left prison with nothing—is confident he would not be on his current path to success.
