A Message from Stan Kujawa

As a board member and co-founder, I am honored to share with you a new program called “Welcome to a New Life”, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The program’s mission is to provide mentorship and resources for adults who are involved in the Hancock County justice system, helping them to live, crime-free, drug-free, productive lives.

We provide two mentors to each inmate or other individual involved in the judicial system. These mentors help the mentees gain employment, housing and other skills that will lead them to a new life. Our mentors walk the journey to a new life with these folks. The goal is to help them to change their behavior patterns, get the help they need to overcome addiction and/or mental health issues and leave their old ways behind.

During our 2018 pilot program, we mentored six mentees. Four are considered successes. Two have relapsed, but one of those has returned to our program. These individuals have entered treatment, gained employment and have rebuilt their lives. We recognize that the path to a more healthy, lawful life is not easy. To quote one of our remarkable board members, “everyone needs hope. This program is designed to give hope to those who may have none.”

Welcome to a New Life has taken nearly two years to develop. During this time, Puck Rowe and I have had one-on-one meetings with more than 250 community leaders such as: judges and probation officials; law enforcement personnel; public defenders; mental health professionals; and leaders in the areas of business, education, and the faith-based community. All agreed that this is a much-needed program.

Maintaining our Hancock County jail has become a constant challenge in large part due to the unfortunate increase of people who have turned to substance abuse. This activity often leads to unlawful behavior. Many of these individuals struggle with mental health issues as well. The jail is equipped to handle 98 inmates. The number of inmates now consistently reaches well over 100. This overcrowding requires the county to send inmates to other counties impacting our Hancock County tax dollars. In 2018, more than $500,000 additional funds were spent to accommodate the crowded conditions. This program has the potential to impact not only lives, but our county’s bottom line.

If you would like to watch a video of some of our board members expressing their passion and desire to be involved with this organization, click here.

Please consider supporting the program with a tax-deductible donation. A donation can be mailed to:

Welcome to a New Life
PMB #105
2447 Tiffin Ave.
Findlay, Ohio 45840

A donation can also be made by clicking here. It will take you to our web page where you can make a secure donation by credit card.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

Sincerely,