Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

Olympian JoJo Starbuck Hits the Ice with New York’s At-Risk Children

November 29, 2017 by Emily Andrews

"I'm so excited! I've never done this before!" gasped 4-year-old Trinity, swathed head-to-toe in a purple snowsuit.

Dozens of children like Trinity, all from Harlem and the Bronx, piled off a bus in Central Park for an afternoon of ice skating with Angel Tree®.

Angel Tree, a program of Prison Fellowship®, serves incarcerated parents by creating a pathway to restore and strengthen relationships with their families at Christmas. Additional, year-round opportunities, like Angel Tree sports clinics, give children of prisoners the chance to gain athletic skills and learn about God's love for them.

At the event in New York, children and their caregivers had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of skating, share cookies and cocoa, and hear about the true meaning of Christmas.

STRENGTH FOR TODAY

"I haven't been on an ice skating rink in literally 30 years," says Trinity's mom, Elizabeth. "Seeing [my kids] be braver than me, even when I was 9 … I'm so proud of them."

Novice skaters like Trinity and her brother, Tyler, would be learning from the best: two-time Olympic figure skater and long-time Prison Fellowship supporter JoJo Starbuck. She joined around 60 other volunteers to make Angel Tree's first ice skating clinic a memorable one. As she shared her expertise with kids on the ice, she hoped to infuse them with confidence in their skills—and in themselves.

"I love the Angel Tree program because of what they're giving to these kids, who would not ordinarily have the opportunity, to enjoy," says JoJo.

Children with an incarcerated parent are some of America's most at-risk kids. They are twice as likely than their peers to suffer major depression, attention disorders, and other mental health problems; four times more likely to grow up in poverty; and three times more likely to one day be involved in the criminal justice system themselves.

But for a few hours on the ice, Angel Tree gave these families a sense of hope. This was not only a day of outdoor recreation; it was a chance to build confidence, be encouraged, and feel loved.

"Just looking at their faces is my favorite part of the day," says JoJo, "seeing them kind of freak out when they get out there, and then to find their balance. And they're so energetic … it's amazing."

HOPE FOR TOMORROW

This was not only a day of outdoor recreation; it was a chance to build confidence, be encouraged, and feel loved.
As the sun began to dip behind the city skyline, children and caregivers gathered to hear Pastor Dimas Salaberrios, a former drug kingpin, share how Christ transformed his life of crime into one of healing and restoration.

This message is one that can make all the difference in the life of a child, especially one who is growing up with a mom or dad behind bars. That's why Angel Tree sports clinics exist: to lift kids up, help them know their worth, show them what they're capable of, and encourage them to find their footing—not only on the ice, but in life.

JoJo adds, "Angel Tree is such a worthwhile organization to get behind, because you're making a difference for the next generation."




OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

SHOP AND GIVE WITH AMAZON SMILE
Purchasing gifts for your friends and family this season? Did you know you can also give to Prison Fellowship through Amazon Smile at no extra cost to you?

GROWING UP IN A PRISON VISITING ROOM
"He grabbed my hand and said, 'I'm going to leave for a long time and you have to take care of your mom and your sister.'"

DID YOU ENJOY THIS ARTICLE?

Make sure you don' t miss out on any of our helpful articles and incredible transformation stories! Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter, and you' ll get great content delivered directly to your inbox.

Your privacy is safe with us. We will never sell, trade, or share your personal information.

Filed Under: Angel Tree Tagged With: Angel Tree, Angel Tree Sports Clinic, Ice Skating, JoJo Starbuck, New York, New York City

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

The Powerful Love of Moms Behind Bars

May 7, 2025

How Camp Can Change the Life of a Prisoner’s Child

April 30, 2025

Prison Fellowship’s Statement After United States Senate Declares April 2025 as Second Chance Month

April 29, 2025

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports CampTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.