Mission
The Four Seven
The Four Seven is dedicated to empowering individuals returning from incarceration by providing comprehensive support, resources, and opportunities to successfully reintegrate into its community, reducing recidivism and promoting a safer society.
Sponsoring P&G Alumni
Sponsoring Alum: Sharon Bergman
27 years in MSD in Cincinnati and Newcastle, UK.
Sharon is currently a ReEntry Employment Team Leader, leading a team of 5 career coordinators and, in this most recent fiscal year (‘24-’25), managing the exit/successful employment of 30 clients. She’s been a Board member/secretary as well for the past 3 years.
There are 3 additional P&G Alums involved with The Four Seven:
Vivian Bechtold – Dayton Correctional Institution Site Leader
Matt Murphy – Current Board Member, and Geri Geisland – Family Support Volunteer
Sharon writes, “When you support the 47s; you are transforming lives. When people learn of the resources available; they envision their second chance. When someone is holding them accountable for taking their next step; they realize they can do it.”
The Re-Entry Employment Program
The purpose of the program is to assist a returning citizen with obtaining his/ her initial job after years of incarceration. The ReEntry Employment: Getting a Job! program is a subset of the Reentry Service that is available to clients when re-entering society. The ReEntry Employment team helps with resumes, interview practice and job seeking while holding individuals accountable to make a new life. This budget provides funds for the basic starting needs (driver license, housing, working clothes, etc.) as well as a gift card for every 30 days of work. Last year, 47 partnered with 30 employers to place 97% of its clients within 6 months. Today, none of those clients have returned to prison.
2025 Grant
Specifically PGAF funds will provide:
1) Transportation to interviews; work until the first paycheck and higher education,
2) Work clothes and necessary tools of the trade,
3) Gift cards for every 30 days worked with congratulatory note,
4) Fund the renewal of certifications that expired while in prison,
5) Pay for application fees to apply for continuing education, and
6) Pay for computers, textbooks if attending higher education. The deliverable: the 2026 goal is to place 30 more clients in jobs with a sustainable household income, and for those clients to maintain their jobs for at least 12 months.
Success Story
“Here is one client story to show how constant communication is the key to success. One client came to the 47s when he was living in a sober living house. If he did not find employment he had to leave. Leaving for him meant on the streets. He applied to many jobs but his record was preventing him. We worked on his resume and analyzed the bus routes around his sober living house and understood his skills. Knowing that Bilstein was a second chance employer with one bus route from the sober living house – we suggested this opportunity. We paid for his work clothes; his bus card and UBER for his interview and he is now 210 days employed and in our employment incentive program. He continues to work and provide the sober living house 20% of his income. Soon he is ready to launch from the group house to his own apartment. We paid for the first rent. He has furniture from our New Life Furniture contract. Now he is working on his driver’s license fees. Next he will attend night school at Miami University to complete his Business degree while working. It is a journey!”