The Sun
YUMA, Ariz. — The inmates of the state prison in San Luis, Ariz., want area businesses to help them raise money for the battle against cancer.
The inmates of the prison’s La Paz Unit have issued a challenge to businesses to match dollar for dollar the money the prisoners raise and contribute for Relay For Life, the annual fundraising campaign to benefit the American Cancer Society.
The prisoners’ contributions will come from their inmate accounts, which contain the money they earn from performing jobs in the prison or as members of work crews, said Alexis Reyes, a corrections officer at the prison on the Avenue B Extension and State Highway 195.
The inmates, who earn between 25 and 45 cents an hour, began their fundraising campaign Friday, and they’re hoping to raise a total of $2,000 in the next several weeks, said Reyes, who is overseeing the campaign.
“The inmates here at the La Paz Unit may not be able to give much, but we know how important this organization is to the community,” Reyes said in an appeal to businesses. “That is why we are challenging your business.”
She said the prison is asking each business that wants to participate in the challenge to pledge an amount equal to whatever the inmates end up raising.
She said businesses will be notified by Feb. 19 how much the inmates raised.
Businesses also have the option of donating amounts of their choosing.
Participating businesses can make their donations online by visiting http://main.acsevents.org/goto/LaPaz.
To make an offline donation, they should go to http://main.acsevents.org/goto/AReyes, and click on the link labeled “or make your donation by check.”
Reyes said March 8 is the deadline for businesses that accept the inmate challenge to make their donations.
For more information about the campaign, call (928) 627-8871, Extensión 17500, or e-mail Reyes at AReyes.acs@gmail.com
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