NEWS

  • Fortune Society Receives $300,000 EPA Grant
    Fortune Society Receives $300,000 EPA Grant

    The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded The Fortune Society a $300,000 grant to be used for a new green jobs-oriented training program.

  • We’re #1!!
    We’re #1!!

    Experts Vote Fortune Society #1 in Positive Impact in Criminal Justice System!

  • Updated Bill Tracker

    The Fortune Society is committed to helping ourselves and our associates stay up to date on the latest legislation impacting our shared mission.

  • Fortune Society Toolkits Unveiled

    Toolkits titled, Employing Your Mission:  Building Cultural Competence in Reentry Service Agencies  and In Our Backyard: Overcoming Community Resistance to Rentry Housing, outline how to successfully employ men and women with criminal histories is now available. This is the product of a joint effort by The Fortune Society in partnership with the Prisoner Reentry Institute…

  • NOV. 7th Benefit Attracts Enthusiastic Crowd
    NOV. 7th Benefit Attracts Enthusiastic Crowd

    Fall Benefit is a Rousing Success

  • Fortune Society and Jonathan Rose Companies Celebrate Grand Opening of $43 Million Project – NY Real Estate Journal, 11/23/10
    Fortune Society and Jonathan Rose Companies Celebrate Grand Opening of $43 Million Project – NY Real Estate Journal, 11/23/10

    “West Harlem, NY This fall, mayor Michael Bloomberg joined The Fortune Society, Jonathan Rose Companies, and federal, state and local officials in celebrating the opening of Fortune’s “Castle Gardens,” a mixed-use affordable and green apartment complex. The total project cost was $43 million. Located at 625 West 140th St., the new 110,000 s/f building provides 114 apartments for formerly incarcerated individuals and low income families from the local community…” Read the full story after the jump!

  • Fortune Society Holds Annual Awards and Benefit Gala – City Guide NY, 11/19/10
    Fortune Society Holds Annual Awards and Benefit Gala – City Guide NY, 11/19/10

    More than 300 members of New York City’s philanthropic, business, civic and theater communities gathered tonight to honor Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker and Broadway Producer Eric Krebs at the Fortune Society’s Annual Awards and Benefit Gala held at the Laura Pels Theater. Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Edward Albee and New York State Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright served as the evening’s honorary Co-Chairs. The Fortune Society is one of the nation’s most respected nonprofit organizations offering services to formerly incarcerated men and women…” Read the full story after the jump!

  • Fortune Gala Raises $109K – NY Non-Profit Press, 11/19/10
    Fortune Gala Raises $109K – NY Non-Profit Press, 11/19/10

    “Glenn E. Martin, Vice President of Development and Public Affairs; Karen Williams, the Visionary and Co-Producer of “Bring You’re ‘A’ Game”; Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker; Betty P. Rauch, The Fortune Society Board Chair; JoAnne Page, President and Chief Executive Officer; Eric Krebs, Broadway Producer; Sherry Goldstein, Chief of Staff).  More than 300 members of New York City’s philanthropic, business, civic and theater communities gathered on Monday at the Fortune Society’s Annual Awards and Benefit Gala.  The event, held at the Laura Pels Theater, honored Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker and Broadway Producer Eric Krebs.” Read the full story after the jump!

  • Fortune Society Opens “Castle Gardens” – NY Non-Profit Press, 09/17/10
    Fortune Society Opens “Castle Gardens” – NY Non-Profit Press, 09/17/10

    “The Fortune Society was joined by Mayor Bloomberg and other officials on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of “Castle Gardens”, a mixed-use affordable and green apartment complex in West Harlem. Located at 625 West 140th Street, the new 110,000 square-foot building will provide 114 apartments for formerly incarcerated individuals and low income families from the local community…” Read the full story after the jump.

  • What a Difference $42 Million Can Make – Samson’s View Blog, 09/16/10
    What a Difference $42 Million Can Make – Samson’s View Blog, 09/16/10

    Samson Styles, one of Fortune’s esteemed board members, is a correspondent for BET (Black Entertainment Television). He shares his thoughts about the grand opening of our new residence and service center, Castle Gardens, on his blog, “Samson’s View”. Thanks for the shout-out, Samson!

    “Thank God for the Fortune Society…. They are a non-for-profit organization based in NYC. Their primary mission is to support re-entry from prison and to promote alternatives to incarceration. The Fortune Society has been rocking for 43 years and they keep building up steam. They just built an eco-friendly affordable apartment complex in west Harlem that cost $42 million. It’s called Castle Gardens and it has 114 units…” Read the full blog post here.

  • West Harlem Affordable Housing Opens Its Doors – Epoch Times, 09/16/10
    West Harlem Affordable Housing Opens Its Doors – Epoch Times, 09/16/10

    “Castle Gardens, an apartment complex in West Harlem for low-income families and formerly incarcerated residents, opened its doors on Wednesday. The 114-unit complex is in part created by the Fortune Society, a non-profit organization seeking to reintegrate former prisoners into communities. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and elected officials congratulated the society for their efforts and came out to welcome residents to their new homes…” Read the full story after the jump!

  • Latest Eco-Friendly Housing Complex Opens In Harlem – NY1 TV, 09/15/10
    Latest Eco-Friendly Housing Complex Opens In Harlem – NY1 TV, 09/15/10

    “Harlem celebrated the opening of a new, green, affordable housing complex Wednesday.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg was on hand to present ceremonial keys to some new residents of Castle Gardens. It offers permanent housing and on-site support services for former prisoners, and provides affordable apartments for members of the West Harlem community.” Read the full story and WATCH THE VIDEO after the jump!

  • The Fortune Society Celebrates the Grand Opening of Castle Gardens-Bringing Affordable, Supportive, Eco-Friendly Apartments to Harlem – NYC.gov, 09/15/10
    The Fortune Society Celebrates the Grand Opening of Castle Gardens-Bringing Affordable, Supportive, Eco-Friendly Apartments to Harlem – NYC.gov, 09/15/10

    “Mayor Bloomberg Presents Apartment Keys to New Residents Including Formally Incarcerated Individuals and Low Income Families

    NEW YORK – Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today joined The Fortune Society, Jonathan Rose Companies, and federal, state and local officials in celebrating the opening of Fortune’s “Castle Gardens,” a mixed-use affordable, supportive and green apartment complex in West Harlem. Located at 625 West 140th Street , the new 110,000 square-foot building will provide 114 apartments for homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals and low income families from the local community. The Fortune Society is one of the most respected and effective alternative to incarceration and reentry agencies in the country.” Read the full story after the jump!

  • New”Eco”Housing for Ex-Offenders in New York – The Crime Report, 09/15/10
    New”Eco”Housing for Ex-Offenders in New York – The Crime Report, 09/15/10

    “Castle Gardens- a 114 apartment building with supportive services for formerly incarcerated persons-opened in West Harlem in New York City today. Fifty units, with rents ranging from $624 for a studio to $1127 for a three-bedroom, will be set aside for ex-offenders, with the balance going to low-income families…” Read the full story here.

  • The Fortune Society Opens Doors to Eco-Friendly, Affordable Apartment Complex in West Harlem – The Black Urban Times, 09/15/10

    “On Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will join JoAnne Page, President and CEO of The Fortune Society and Jonathan F.P. Rose, President of Jonathan Rose Companies in celebrating the grand opening of Castle Gardens, a 114-unit, eco-friendly apartment complex in West Harlem. The new $42 million building will offer permanent housing and support services for formerly incarcerated individuals and affordable apartments for members of the neighboring community…” Read the rest of the story here!

  • Fortune Society hosts back-to-school book bag giveaway in time for the start of school – The Amsterdam News, 09/02/10
    Fortune Society hosts back-to-school book bag giveaway in time for the start of school – The Amsterdam News, 09/02/10

    Children and families from Harlem and surrounding neighborhoods gathered on Saturday at The Fortune Society’s supportive housing facility, The Fortune Academy, to receive nearly 1,000 book bags filled with school supplies, thanks to 300 men serving time at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, NY…

    Download the pdf to read the full story!

  • Prison Labor is a Good Thing – All Brooklyn “Courier” Papers, 08/27/10

    This Op-Ed by Fortune President and CEO, JoAnne Page, ran in all Brooklyn Courier Papers last week.  Download the pdfs after the jump!

    “As president and CEO of The Fortune Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the formerly incarcerated re-enter their communities, I support having prisoners do community service, including working at Asser Levy Park. Such service gives them the opportunity to be a part of a project and a team; giving them a chance to contribute to their community, which in turn leads them to re-enter the outside world with a positive outlook and a desire to start fresh…” Download the pdfs, after the jump, to read the full story!

  • Prison Labor is a Good Thing – The Brooklyn Paper, 08/27/10
    Prison Labor is a Good Thing – The Brooklyn Paper, 08/27/10
    By JoAnne Page

    As president and CEO of The Fortune Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the formerly incarcerated re-enter their communities, I support having prisoners do community service, including working at Asser Levy Park. Such service gives them the opportunity to be a part of a project and a team; giving them a chance to contribute to their community, which in turn leads them to re-enter the outside world with a positive outlook and a desire to start fresh.

  • NY Daily News – “The Fortune Society helps those ‘formerly incarcerated’ find life after crack”
    NY Daily News – “The Fortune Society helps those ‘formerly incarcerated’ find life after crack”

    (Tuesday, August 17th, 2010)

    …Then, she went to The Fortune Society.

    “Everybody here is beautiful,” she gushed. “They believed in me.”

    In the last two months, they helped her get the apartment, offered the GED course and got her substance-abuse counseling…

    Read the full article by clicking here!

  • Building Makes for Odd Neighbors – The Wall Street Journal
    Building Makes for Odd Neighbors – The Wall Street Journal

    “Ex-convicts and single moms with children are about to start living side by side in an unusual housing experiment that begins later this month in Harlem…” To read the full article, click here.

  • Re-thinking Reentry Blog: "A Crime Prevented Is Far Better Than a Crime Prosecuted": Manhattan District Attorney holds Communities and Justice Conference"
    “On Wednesday, July 28th and Thursday, July 29th, experts from around the country, including prosecutors, community advocates, and academic specialists gathered at John Jay for an innovative”Communities and Justice Conference: Partnerships & Challenges for the 21st Century” sponsored in partnership by the New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, and Jeremy Travis, President, John Jay College…” To read the full post about this conference, in which Fortune’s own Glenn E. Martin was a featured speaker, please click here.

  • The Fortune Society and Jonathan Rose Companies build affordable housing in Harlem – CityRealty.com
    The Fortune Society and Jonathan Rose Companies build affordable housing in Harlem – CityRealty.com

    “The Fortune Society and the Jonathan Rose Companies are nearing completion of Fortune Castle Gardens at 625 West 140th Street that will contain 113 “affordable” apartments including 50 for homeless persons who previously been incarcerated….” Read the full article here.

  • A Special Graduation Day – Queens Courier
    A Special Graduation Day – Queens Courier

    “Fifteen formerly incarcerated men and women recently celebrated a huge milestone in their lives – graduating from The Fortune Society’s Education Program and receiving their General Equivalency Diploma (GED)…”Read the full article here.

  • Mayor Bloomberg Announces Citywide Fatherhood Initiative to Strengthen New York City Families -
    Mayor Bloomberg Announces Citywide Fatherhood Initiative to Strengthen New York City Families -

    “Appointment of First-ever Citywide Fatherhood Services Coordinator will Support City Agencies in Helping Fathers be Active and Accountable…” Read the full official press release here.

  • City creates daddy czar – New York Post
    City creates daddy czar – New York Post

    “Those of us lucky enough to have grown up with a father know how valuable that support can be,” Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday, announcing the move at the Fortune Society in Queens...” Read the full article here.

  • Fortune Hosts Mayor Bloomberg’s Press Conference Announcing Citywide Fatherhood Initiative – The Black Urban Times

    “On Thursday, June 17th , The Fortune Society was honored to host Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for a press conference during which he announced the launch of a citywide fatherhood initiative to strengthen New York City families by helping fathers be active in their children’s lives…”  Read the full article here.

  • Big Daddy – The Neighborhood Retail Alliance

    “In the mid nineties, the Clinton administration and the Republican controlled congress passed landmark welfare reform legislation-and in New York Mayor Giuliani followed up with reforms of his own that have greatly reduced dependency. The lesson? Toughen up the eligibility rules, introduce work requirements, and disincentivize utilizing the state as daddy…” Read the full article here.

  • Father Program Begins in NYC – YourNabe.com

    “Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a citywide initiative from Long Island City last week that will enable city agencies to help fathers stay active in their children’s lives…”  Read the full article here.

  • NYC Program Mentors Minority Fathers – BlackRadioNetwork.com

    “New York-Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has announced the launch of a citywide fatherhood initiative to strengthen New York City families by helping fathers be active in their children’s lives. The launch comes after the Mayor directed city agencies to review their policies and practices to make sure fathers were not unintentionally excluded from, or missing opportunities to engage in their children’s lives…” Read the full article here.

  • Joint Efforts to Bring Noncustodial Fathers Home – Epoch Times
    Joint Efforts to Bring Noncustodial Fathers Home – Epoch Times

    “This year’s Father’s Day might have just passed, but joint efforts to achieve the Responsible Fatherhood Programs have just begun to take place…” Read the full article here.

  • HUD Awards $30 Million to 29 Local HIV-AIDS Housing Programs – RealEstateRama.com

    More than a thousand extremely low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS will continue to receive permanent housing as a result of $30.2 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During each of the next three years, this HUD funding will help provide permanent supportive housing for 1,232 households so they can manage their illnesses while receiving critically needed support services…” Read the full article here.

  • Reviews of "The Castle", Fortune's Compelling Original Drama
    Reviews of "The Castle", Fortune's Compelling Original Drama

    The Castle was conceived, co-written, and directed by Fortune Founder David Rothenberg, and is co-written and performed by Vilma Oritz Donovan, Kenneth Harrigan, Angel Ramos, and Casimiro Torres – all of whom are former clients of The Fortune Society. This breathtaking drama follows the formerly incarcerated cast, which has collectively served over 70 years in prison, as they relate their harrowing, real-life journeys through adversity, crime, and redemption.