Worldwide Power Products Renews Commitment to Bridges To Life
(PRWEB) December 23, 2013 -- Worldwide Power Products (WPP), a power-generation equipment provider to industrial and petroleum clients worldwide, today announced that in 2014 it will continue its sponsorship of Bridges To Life (BTL). BTL is an innovative, highly successful program that partners victims with individuals who have been incarcerated for violent crimes to reduce offender rates of recidivism and help both victims and offenders heal. Many of BTL’s volunteer program participants are crime victims; they work directly with imprisoned offenders who have expressed a desire to change.
“Bridges To Life is so grateful to have the support of hundreds of volunteers and donors that make our work possible,” said BTL Founder and Executive Director John Sage. “Support from companies such as Worldwide Power Products enables us to help an ever-increasing number of offenders each year.”
BTL was founded in by John Sage in 1998 after the violent murder of his beloved sister Marilyn. Although the homicide profoundly affected John, his family, Marilyn’s many friends and the whole community, the tragedy was also the impetus for this ground-breaking program. WPP has donated $5,000 to BTL and/or sponsored a table at BTL’s annual Vision Luncheon every year since its inception in 2008, and WPP Founder Will Perry has been a donor since 2005.
“What began as an effort to help family and friends of a single victim become whole again has turned into an extraordinary effort spanning 40 Texas penal facilities and incorporating more than 400 volunteers,” said WPP Founder Will Perry. “We are grateful for John Sage and all the victims who have conquered their pain to work directly with criminal offenders. It gives us a great sense of pride to support this cause.”
Since BTL began in 2000, the program has graduated more than 19,000 offenders, many of whom have reentered society successfully. Although the national rate of recidivism is 40%, the rate for BTL is 18%―less than half the national average. Even more impressive, among the graduates BTL followed for its recidivism study, only 2% have returned to a prison for a violent crime.
“What’s so amazing about this program is not only its statistical success,” said WPP Executive VP Mark Lum. “It’s also that so many individuals who have been victims of violent crime are willing to support this effort―and in doing so, often say they gain as much from the program as does the offender.”
About Bridges to Life
Bridges to Life is a 14-week program during which offenders and victims are brought together in a small group format with a facilitator. The goal of the program is to foster a dialogue between victim volunteers and offenders that will help both heal and become well again, and to reduce the likelihood that offenders, when released, will commit further crimes. Although the first goal is impossible to measure, the second is well documented through data collected and recorded by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). For more information, visit http://www.bridgestolife.org.
About Worldwide Power Products
Recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s 100 Most Promising Companies and ranked among the Inc. 500 fastest growing privately-held companies, Worldwide Power Products specializes in power generation equipment including new and used engines and generator sets. As an independent company based in Houston, Texas, the company buys and sells new and used generator sets and engines worldwide. In addition, the firm provides engineering, maintenance and repair plus rental services. Generator sets range in size from 20kW - 3000kW and engines range in size from 150hp - 4000hp. Brand specialties include Caterpillar generator sets and engines and Cummins generator sets. For more information and a complete list of inventory, visit http://www.wpowerproducts.com.
Mark Lum, Worldwide Power Products, +1 (713) 434-2300, [email protected]
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