Dannon Project

The Dannon Project helps restore lives through providing supportive assistance including short term training and certifications, job prep and placement to to youth, unemployed, underemployed and  re-entry services to previously incarcerated persons to repair, restore, and renew not only their lives, but the lives of their families too giving them second chances for achieving life success.

Our system of intensive case management and referrals allow us to begin working with previously incarcerated persons six months prior to release. The goal of our effective prison re-entry services is to interrupt the cycle of recidivism and help people successfully return to and remain in the community. This means making sure they are prepared for the transitions before they are released, and helping them over time when challenges arise. It also means making sure communities are prepared to support them with housing, jobs, medical services, and positive social connections. 

The Dannon Project was founded by Jeh Jeh Pruitt and his wife, Kerri Pruitt, in 1999. The organization was named after Dannon Pruitt, Jeh Jeh's youngest brother, who was killed by a person that had been recently released from prison on a non-violent offense. Kerri believed that if this young man had a strong support system after his release that he would probably have made better choices about how he used his time maybe preventing Dannon's death. The Dannon Project obtained non-profit status in October 2003. It was established to help persons in transition, especially those with addictions on the road to recovery, unemployed, underemployed, at-risk youth and adults, both male and female and specifically non violent offenders reentering society.

Mission
To insure maximum utilization of resources in the geographical area of Birmingham, Jefferson and surrounding counties by employing all of the resources in the area, including but not limited to, resources available from private charitable sources and from local, state and federal governments to assist in the development of healthy communities and lifestyles, thereby, preventing violence and other at-risk behaviors that lead to unemployment, disease, incarceration and re-incarceration, premature death and generational cycles of poverty and economic exclusion.

Vision
The Dannon Project is the “Point of Contact” within the community to provide supportive services, case management and referrals to several at-risk populations, specifically non-violent ex-offenders, unemployed, under employed youth and adults, both male and females, which will result in permanent employment, housing, improved and sustained health, mentors, counseling, stable families and significantly change poor social behavior patterns