Since its inception in 1980, Bridges of America (BOA) has maintained an unwavering commitment to provide thousands of felony offenders the opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities as law-abiding and tax-paying citizens nationally and internationally. BOA embraces positive change – change that allows their clients to feel proud of themselves and puts them in a position to be productive citizens within the community.
BOA is the largest, oldest and most successful private provider of re-entry programming in the state of Florida, providing a continuum of care in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, Transition Centers, Community Release Centers, and Community Re-Entry Services Transitional Housing for offenders, ex-felons and probation populations. Last year alone, BOA received nearly 450,000 pounds of food from Second Harvest Food Bank, and served nearly 375,000 meals.
At the Orlando Bridge Transition Center, 14 inmates earned high school diplomas in 2014. Pictured above is a class that graduated in 2014. In 13/14, 33 inmates completed the American Culinary Federation 1000-hour Culinary Fundamentals Course. BOA encourages our clients to continue their education and strive to create a better life for themselves and their families. The Culinary Program is run by Chef Michael Schnitzer.