From Prison Bars to Messages of Hope
- Tania Haldar
- Oct 11, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The Turning Point No Parent Expects
Carolyn LeCroy’s world shattered when her 20-year-old son was sentenced to 25 years in prison. As a mother, the weight of that moment was unbearable. But what started as personal heartbreak soon ignited a profound purpose.
A Camera, a Mission, and a Mother's Love
While volunteering inside prisons, Carolyn noticed a heartbreaking pattern — children suffering in silence, separated from parents they still longed for. She asked a simple yet powerful question:“What if we could help parents stay emotionally connected to their children?”
With just a video camera and a dream, she began recording inmates reading bedtime stories and heartfelt messages for their kids. That was the birth of The Messages Project.
Healing Through the Lens
Since its founding, The Messages Project has delivered over 12,000 video messages, giving children a chance to see and hear their parents — often for the first time in years. These moments help restore emotional bonds, reduce trauma, and even inspire inmates to become better parents.
Carolyn’s work doesn’t end with the videos. She’s an advocate for second chances, a TEDx speaker, and a national voice for prison reform and family healing. Her message is clear: Love doesn’t end at the prison gate — and neither should hope.
Why This Matters
With more than 2.7 million children in the U.S. having an incarcerated parent, Carolyn LeCroy’s mission speaks to a silent crisis. Her compassion has become a lifeline for families torn apart — and a beacon for what's possible when one person dares to make a difference.
Carolyn LeCroy didn’t wait for change — she became it. Her journey from heartbreak to healing proves that even behind prison walls, love can still find its voice. Her work is a powerful reminder: when we uplift families, we strengthen futures.
Help Carolyn continue delivering messages of love and hope to children who need them most.Donate to The Messages Project today and be part of keeping families connected — one story, one child, one video at a time, Because every child deserves to hear, “I love you.”
