2025 | November

Greetings!

At Thanksgiving dinners far and wide, it is a common practice to have guests go around the table and express what they are thankful for. If Bridges To Life had a seat at your table, this is what we would say:

We are grateful for:

• ...the Crime Victim Speakers who bravely tell their stories in our program, evoking compassion and change in the inmate participants;
• ...our Volunteer Facilitators who, week after week, help the inmate participants dig deep by asking hard questions and listening without judgment;
• ...the BTL Graduates who take our program and use what they learn to change their lives;
• ...all of the Donors who consistently support us financially, some over many years, because they believe in our mission of healing crime victims, rehabilitating offenders, and making our communities safer;
• ...the collaboration and assistance of the Prison Staff in over 100 facilities where we conduct the BTL program each year, providing safety and order in a challenging environment;
• ...those who Pray for Bridges To Life, knowing that all we do could not be accomplished without faith in a Divine Hand directing us.

Thank You to all of our supporters, and may your Thanksgivings be filled with blessings and joy.

John Sage, Founder & CEO

Jim Buffington, COO

As we do each year, this month Bridges To Life held three Vision events to share and celebrate our work. COO Jim Buffington hosted in Arlington on November 1st, CEO John Sage in Houston on November 6th, and Regional Coordinator Tac Buchanan in Amarillo on November 13th.



The 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Bob Christy, who has completed 38 BTL projects in 8 prisons, contributing 2,400 hours of service during his 25 years as a BTL volunteer! Our Hero Award honoring service from volunteers age 85 or older was received by Jerry McClain.

Thank you to both of these awesome volunteers!

2025 Vision Event Photos

Top left: Volunteer of the Year Bob Christy with wife Judy;

Top right: Hero Award recipient Jerry McClain with John Sage (left) and Jim Buffington (right)


Center left: BTL Staff at DFW event (L to R): Joel Lightfoot, Zack Jonas, Meredith Schwanke, Maryann Griffin, Charles Fisher, Jeremy Lampier, Jim Buffington

Center right: Amarillo event host Tac Buchanan, Amarillo/Panhandle Regional Coordinator

Bottom: DFW speakers (L to R): Matthew Daniels*, Monica Newton*, Candelario Holguin, Jr.*, Jeff Holloway**

*BTL Graduate

**BTL Volunteer

Because we all care about the safety of our families and communities, please consider financially supporting the work of Bridges To Life. Annual recidivism studies show that 89% of BTL graduates do not return to prison 3 years after release! Fewer crimes mean fewer crime victims, and that is something we can all care about.



THANK YOU!