Previous Award Recipients

2017

Wayne Hughes

Wayne Hughes, Jr., has given an incredible amount of his time and resources so that those incarcerated have opportunities for rehabilitation. His support of expanding The Urban Ministry Institute classes in prisons throughout California continues, resulting in over 1500 inmate students getting the chance at this transformational education. His advocacy includes his dedication to policy change, such as his backing of Proposition 47, successfully reducing penalties for non-violent crimes. His passion for assisting in restoration of hope and humanity for the least of these includes the creation of the non-profit foundation, Serving California, whose efforts include supporting reentry and recovery homes which shelter men and women who have been victims of crime.

2016

David and Charlotte Cauwels

David and Charlotte Cauwels have spent decades generously investing in the restoration of those affected by crime and incarceration. For nearly 40 years, the Cauwels have taught, discipled, and trained prisoners. David served on the Prison Fellowship Board of Directors for 31 years before he was appointed director emeritus. Recently, the Cauwels helped establish an in-prison seminary in their home state of New Mexico.

By giving generously of their time and resources in a variety of ways, David and Charlotte have helped make sure that Chuck Colson’s legacy of hope continues. Their son, Paul, has followed in his parents’ footsteps and engaged wholeheartedly in the ministry as a board member and a generous supporter of Prison Fellowship.

2017

Gene Mills

Louisiana, previously the leading incarcerator in the nation, passed a landmark package of justice reform legislation in 2017. To achieve this, Prison Fellowship worked with Gene Mills, the head of the Louisiana Family Foundation, among others. The leadership and experience of Gene Mills cleared a path for believers to be a powerful voice in this process, and his God-given talent of bringing diverse constituents together – including law enforcement, policymakers, victims of crime, and pastors – helped to guide this vital achievement.

2016

Senator John Cornyn

Sen. John Cornyn’s leadership has blazed a trail toward a future of proportional punishment, constructive prison culture, second chances, and safer communities in our country. Throughout his career, he has remained a diligent, compassionate public servant.

An outspoken champion for criminal justice reform on Capitol Hill, Cornyn has tirelessly supported responsible legislation that works to break the cycle of crime, respecting and defending prisoners’ needs for effective correctional programming. He pursues smart reforms based on both hard evidence and unwavering compassion. His balanced, forthright views reflect a core belief in the dignity of people, and the people he serves are better off for it.

2017

Michael Miller

Michael is a champion for the downtrodden, broken men in prison.  The list of all the things Michael has done out of compassion, calling, and love is very long, but its really because of his humility and willingness to serve anywhere and the way he does it with excellence that I want to commend him to you as a Champion of Hope. Over 20 years ago, Michael served time in Texas, and as he says – he did every day, every hour, every minute of his 10 year sentence.  He now serves as a facilitator for Pre-release classes at Pontiac CC and says if there were programs like this when he was inside, it would have made all the difference.  God restored Michael to his children, to community where he serves as an Associate Pastor, and to an excellent job with Ford Motor Co.  But again, Michael gives over and above to every need, and every area of prison ministry. At Easter programs with Jim Liske, he was the speaker that brought tears to our eyes, as he pleaded with the young men, offering if he could to exchange places with them that they might know Christ.  He trains other volunteers in ministry. He travels the long state of Illinois to far prisons for Black History events, for Angel Tree sign ups, for ministry opportunities.  He encouraged his church to celebrate Angel Tree children beyond Christmas and they gave backpacks of school supplies to children in Chicago with a fun summer event, and works with Restorative Church Chicago to convene and equip other churches to do outreach that restore prisoners and their families.  He’s picked up mom’s and drove them to the prison to pick up their sons (participants of the pre-release program) on their prison release date, and after driving from the prison, still drove around the rest of the day getting ID’s and registrations.  He has his church engaged in sending cards, and toiletries.  He partnered with PF to have Chicago Mass Choir sing at Stateville CC at a considerable expense he incurred. But again, its the humble gentle always available, always willing to go the extra extra mile that makes Michael the champion of Hope for prison ministry. Michael is able to share Jesus with power, with excellence, with a truth that cuts through the rhetoric that one offers blinding, and it pierces the darkness and lets the light of Jesus shine in the prison, and in the community.  And that is a true champion of Hope.

2016

Danny Croce

In 1985, Danny Croce received a Bible while incarcerated at Massachusetts’s Plymouth County Jail. After reading the Gospels, he became a Christian, overcame his addiction, and began to love and serve God. After his release, he received the Wheaton College’s Charles Colson Scholarship for former prisoners and graduated with a degree in theology in 1995.

Danny returned to the Plymouth County Jail as the new chaplain. He is now the head of New Hope Correctional Ministry, which provides comprehensive, nondenominational chaplain services to correctional facility residents, staff, public officials, and the surrounding community.

Danny is an inspiring example of the potential that gets unleashed when prisoners turn their lives over to Christ and demonstrates what is possible for each person now behind bars.

2017

Sidney Wayne Carter

Sidney Carter is the President of Families on the Outside located in Vancouver, WA.  Sidney & his wife Sheri Carter work with the families that have a loved one in jail or state prison in either Washington or Oregon.  They not only have support groups for the adult family in Beyond the Walls, but arrange many events for the kids affected.  They have an Angel Tree dinner, Easter party, fishing trip, new backpacks & school supplies, and many other events during the summer for kids. I have know Sidney for a year his love of Jesus always shines thru and he loves to help others.  Him & his wife also do a Preparing for Release class at Larch Corrections Center.  His encouragement and follow through brings hope to not only the family but the prisoner also.

2016

Mary Kay Beard

After Mary Kay Beard was released from prison, she accepted a position as the Prison Fellowship director for Alabama. Drawing on her experiences behind bars and that of her fellow prisoners, Mary Kay created Angel Tree® to help incarcerated parents and their families. More than 30 years later, millions of relationships have been restored and strengthened through Angel Tree. Entire families have been transformed through the presentation of the Gospel and the care of faithful, local congregations. Prison Fellowship estimates that more than 10 million gifts have been given to children on behalf of their incarcerated parents.

Mary Kay understood that when parents become prisoners, they retain their love and concern for their children. By creating Angel Tree, she helped them restore and strengthen their relationships with their sons and daughters. She respected their ongoing dignity as parents. In fact, the dignity of prisoners and their families was always at the core of Angel Tree. Mary Kay also wisely helped make volunteers and churches the central vehicle for ministry delivery so that they would develop a heart for prisoners’ families and the greater picture of prison ministry. Thanks to her legacy, thousands upon thousands of churches have discovered that prison ministry is a core part of Gospel-centered presence in their local communities.

2017

Randy Grounds

When you first meet Warden Grounds, you know that he is a man’s man.  He has an imposing figure (think Arnold Schwarzenegger), but his ready smile immediately puts you at ease in his presence. As you talk with him you realize that he is first and foremost a humble, wise, and exemplary Christian.  In his work environment, his soft-spoken voice conveys a heart-felt concern for the staff and inmates in his facility. After graduating from UCLA, Randy started his career in 1979 with the El Dorado County Probation Department where he worked for 11 years. During that time he was assigned within a juvenile facility and as a probation officer. In 1991, he began his work with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation where he has been employed for 23 years. He has worked at 4 different prisons including Tehachapi, Solano, Soledad, and Salinas Valley State Prison. This work encompassed all custody levels, I through IV as well as the Security Housing Unit. He has held positions of Correctional Counselor, Supervisor, Classification and Parole Representative, Facility Captain, Associate Warden, Chief Deputy Warden, and Warden. Randy was the warden for the Correctional Training facility, Soledad, prior to being reassigned as warden for Salinas Valley State Prison. He places a high emphasis on Corrections 101, Delivery of Services, and Leadership.

2016

Burl Cain

Burl Cain, the legendary former warden of Louisiana’s Angola State Penitentiary, has long had an enduring and restorative impact in correctional environments. At Angola, one of the bloodiest and most notorious prisons in America, Cain provided the transformative leadership the facility needed.

Cain regularly reinforces the truth that all prisoners’ lives are meaningful, even those who will spend the rest of their days behind bars. His work has promoted the development of safe, humane institutions and positive, life-changing programs for men and women behind bars. His refusal to tolerate a violent, substandard prison has helped generate a culture of dignity and mutual respect. He has also consistently promoted the idea that faith changes lives, even in prison—especially in prison.