Emotions were high on May 2 as the legal community united with community leaders and criminal justice officials in celebrating the healing power of friendships cultivated by the Volunteers In Parole program. VIP enthusiasts attended the highly successful volunteer appreciation and awards banquet at the John Q's Ballroom in the Holiday Inn. Parole agents, attorney mentors and volunteer parolee mentees were honored for their significant contributions to developing mentoring relationships.

Volunteers In Parole is a non-profit organization that recruits, trains and matches attorneys to become mentors to parolees recently released from prison. Every year, the Sacramento chapter holds an awards luncheon in honor of the dedicated work by the volunteers and the inspiring achievements that were cultivated by their efforts. Parolees are honored for the remarkable changes they made in reaching out to positive members of the community and in turning their lives around. VIP also recognizes attorney mentors for the valuable service they provide to people seeking to make a successful transition into the community.

The room was full of energy and enthusiasm. The 170 attendees included prominent Sacramento attorneys, parolee volunteers, Superior Court Judges, parole agents and administrators. Deputy District Attorney Thomas Johnson served as Master of Ceremonies. The hour-long event featured testimony from some of VIP's success stories of the past year.

The afternoon began with introductions of our honored guests, including Public Defenders Paulino Duran and Barry Melton, District Attorney Jan Scully, California Department of Corrections Director Edward Almeida, Judges Gary Ransom, Renard Shepard, Thomas Cecil, Emily Vasques, David De Alba and James Morris. VIP mentee Daniel Triano presented a magnificent slide presentation showcasing VIP's successes in the past year.

Awards presented honored law enforcement personnel, attorneys and parolees who played a key role in mentoring young people on parole. Parole Agent Victoria Lauder was named Parole Agent of the Year. She was honored for outstanding dedication to her clients by encouraging them to pursue drug diversion programs, employment opportunities and healthy relationships.

Deputy District Attorney Alberto Roldan and long-time mentee Manuel Villalobos were awarded Match Partners of the Year. "I learned a lot from this man," Villalobos said of Roldan. "What my mentor has done for my self-esteem is tremendous. After years of being in the prison system, I'm finally breaking that cycle."

Attorney Candace Fry presented her mentee, Gale Newman, with the Outstanding Achievement of the year. Newman graduated from truck driving school in record time. After a horrific truck accident, she maintained the poise and determination to pursue physical rehabilitation and eventually discharge from parole. "I'm happy that Gale is in my life," Fry said. "When we met she was well on her way to building a new life for herself and her family."

VIP also honored the most dedicated attorney mentors. The program has developed to a point where most attorneys from the Sacramento region know that VIP exists. They have strong interest in community service ventures and they appreciate the value mentoring plays in transforming people's lives. Mentor of the Year Honors went to Yolo County Deputy Public Defender Suzann Gostovich and State Board of Equalization Senior Counsel W. Gregory Day. Both recipients humbly accepted the recognition and explained that they also receive a valuable experience by participating as mentors.

"Though it's community service, I get more out of the relationship than I can ever possibly give," Day said.

Of course, VIP also honored the parolees who made amazing transformations in rebuilding their lives. Through dedication, they found stable employment, treatment and housing opportunities. Attorney Ann Farina presented her mentee, Lupe Casillas, with Parolee Mentee of the Year honors. "To succeed in parole means that you have to change the people, places, and things that you are associated with," Casillas said. Not only was Casillas determined to make a better life for herself, she maintains a strong commitment to helping others succeed in their recovery.

Assistant Public Defender Craig Deutsch also honored mentee Tommy Davis with the award for his extensive academic, employment and volunteer work with the community. "Tommy graduated from American River and he is now a student at Sacramento State," Deutsch said. "He's also one of the reasons why programs such as VIP and Youth Peer Court are so successful."

In the last two years, VIP has provided mentorship to over 120 parolees. Over 20 of them have successfully completed parole and they are taking active steps to make positive contributions to our community. Over 100 attorneys are involved in the program as attorney mentors, advisory committee members and active supporters.

This is my last column report on VIP for the Sacramento Lawyer. This fall, I will begin my studies at the UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law. The VIP program is greatly appreciative of the legal community's ongoing support that has allowed us to provide services to the formerly incarcerated and the indigent. I know that you will extend this same wonderful spirit of community to my successor.