For Immediate Release s523

September 25, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Tulp Communications Coordinator Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Inc. Office: 816.659-8226 email: [email protected]

FORMER ROYALS GREAT TO RECOUNT PATH FROM PRISON BACK TO BASEBALL Willie Mays Aikens will help recognize success of community re-entry program KANSAS CITY, MO – Former Kansas City Royals player Willie Mays Aikens will be the featured speaker at an event recognizing the TurnAround Community Re-Entry After Prison program on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. Aikens will share his story of addiction, prison and his return to professional baseball at The View at Briarcliff Courtyard Marriott, 4000 North Mulberry Drive in Kansas City, MO, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. “People tell me that seeing how I’ve come out of prison and turned my life around gives them hope,” Aikens said. “They need that hope, and help, when they leave prison. It takes integrity, dignity and courage to be successful. This program offers all of that for people like me.” The event celebrates another successful year for Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph’s TurnAround program. TurnAround assists former offenders with emergency needs, case management, mentoring and job training, placement and retention. Nearly nine million people are released from federal, state and local jails every year. Within three years, about forty percent of those ex-offenders are back behind bars. The TurnAround program successfully reduces that number, and in turn, makes communities safer. Since July 2012:  414 men and women have received services from Catholic Charities’ TurnAround program  70% received job preparation training  90% of clients enrolled in vocational or educational skills training received a certificates  63% of clients found employment  TurnAround maintained a 12% recidivism rate, compared to the Missouri recidivism rate of 41.8% “The men and women we serve at TurnAround come to us motivated to make changes,” said Program Manager Kathy Ficcadenti. “Our team helps them lead stable, productive lives by helping them reconnect with family, get job training and find employment. It’s good for them, and it’s good for the community.” To schedule an interview with Willie Mays Aikens or other speakers before 6:00 p.m. on September 30, please contact Lisa Tulp at 816.659.8226. About Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph Founded in 1879, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph is a nationally accredited, non-profit agency dedicated to human services across Central and Western Missouri. Inspired by the Gospel mandate, Catholic Charities transforms lives and communities through hope-filled care, services and advocacy. The impact of Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph is felt every day in the communities it serves. Annually, the agency assists more than 150,000 people of all faiths, ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds.

For more information about Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, visit http://www.catholiccharities-kcsj.org. Follow Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph: facebook.com/catholiccharitieskcsj twitter.com/CharityCatholic http://www.linkedin.com/company/catholic-charities-of-kansas-city-st.-joseph