As a long-time advocate for nonprofit innovation, Judi Butterworth recognized a powerful opportunity to collaborate with the Arouet Foundation and disrupt the cycle of recidivism among justice-impacted women. As a result, Arouet developed the Reentry Prosperity Program through its CASE (Career Assessment and Skills Enhancement) Academy—an initiative designed to open educational pathways that cultivate leadership, encourage volunteerism, and strengthen community engagement. Through targeted vocational and educational training, the CASE Academy empowers women returning from incarceration to become catalysts for personal and community transformation. The Lodestar Foundation provided a grant to support a new professional certification program in welding—an in-demand, high-wage trade in Arizona. This program will prepare 20 women to enter the state’s growing welding workforce, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and economic independence needed to rebuild their lives and reduce the likelihood of returning to prison.
Grant Information
Grant Amount: $20,000
Year Granted: 2025
Grantee: Arouet Foundation
Location: AZ - Arizona
Grantee Website: Arouet Foundation