Wings For LIFE International

Wings For LIFE International's mission is to transform lives to break the generational cycle of incarceration. Wings springs from the passion of caring people and the deep concern we have to help families of prisoners who have been largely shunned or ignored by our society. In our society where children are all at risk in one way or another, children whose parent(s) are in prison, face even more challenges.  

Wings provides an arena for effective ways to rebuild assets in the lives of our young people, which can greatly reduce or prevent their involvement in at-risk behaviors.

• Wings For LIFE International was founded in 1995 and is in its 29th year.
• Wings For LIFE International is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
• Wings For LIFE International serves the Greater Albuquerque Metro Area – Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Torrance counties.
• Wings For LIFE International has current filings with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and the Secretary of State’s office.
• Wings For LIFE International has a GuideStar rating of Platinum Transparency, Charity Navigator 100 out of 100, and has been rated a GREAT NONPROFIT Top-Rated Nonprofit for the past 8 years.

Wings For L.I.F.E. - Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education (WFL) is an ongoing program that started in 2014 serving a marginalized and often forgotten population - families of prisoners. Most programs focus on rehabilitating inmates; Wings For L.I.F.E. empowers families to deal with life issues caused by incarceration and teaches ways to lessen at-risks behaviors. Wings For L.I.F.E. is a state and national Best Practice model. It has won numerous awards, including the National Award of Excellence in Crime Prevention (top program in the U.S.) from the American Probation and Parole Association, the NM Children’s Law Institute’s Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Award, the NM Innovative Program Star Award, (top 10 behavioral health programs in NM) and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Keep the Dream Alive Award.

Wing For L.I.F.E builds relationships with families, probationers, and returning citizens through discussion, mentoring, empowerment, and support to teach life skills, address the unique needs of clients, and strengthen families by helping members acquire Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets^®. By implementing Search Institute’s© 40 Developmental Assets^® – evidence-based principles which promote positive, healthy personal development, helping individuals find life’s meaning and purpose. Search Institute data shows that acquisition of these assets cuts at-risk behaviors and increases thriving behaviors for all ages. Wing For L.I.F.E teaches these Assets, providing educational, social, and physical resources that help clients improve their emotional, physical, financial, and social well-being.

We also hold a Monday evening program where dinner is served and we talk about substance abuse. After dinner, kids can learn crafts and even Karate!

All Wings participants, whether inmate’s family members or church volunteers, enjoy the interaction of volunteers working together from many different denominations. Wings For LIFE International strives to build quality relationships and strong values in participants.