Education Ends Recidivism
Our programs turn barriers into bridges—helping families build futures beyond incarceration.
Is Your Parent Incarcerated?
We Offer Scholarships.
PFEF awards scholarships and financial aid to qualified applicants who have a parent incarcerated or on parole, assisting with enrollment cost for colleges and trade schools nationwide.
Scholarship Checklist
Application & Essay
Complete the official PFEF Application Form and respond to all required essay questions using the provided guidelines.
Submission Process
Submit your complete, signed application and all required documents in a large, unfolded envelope by mail—applications are accepted year-round on a first-come, first-served basis.
National Support
Find Your Future at Community College
PFEF’s Community College Navigation Program is a free national service that guides aspiring students—especially children of the incarcerated, parolees, and other at-risk young adults—through every step of starting (or restarting) their education journey.
How We Help
Trade Programs
Qualified applicants can earn industry-recognized certifications in high-demand trades such as welding, core safety, instrumentation, scaffold building, industrial carpentry, electrical, and pipefitting. Training is delivered through the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Training Center and combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience to prepare participants for real-world job opportunities. Graduates leave equipped with the skills and credentials needed to enter the workforce and build lasting careers in the skilled trades.
Note: PFEF offers financial support for all programs except Safety.
Basic Rigger
Rigger is a rigorous industry-recognized curriculum that covers safe rigging practices, lifting operations, load dynamics and lift planning to prepare learners to safely handle and move loads.
Core Safety
The Construction Site Safety Program provides training credentials recognized by contractors and owners who demand more from their on-site supervisors and safety technicians. This comprehensive, standardized program covers both the field and administrative aspects of construction safety.
Electrical
Prepares learners for a career as skilled professionals in the electrical field. It places strong emphasis on safe work practices, while covering applied electrical theory, residential, commercial, and industrial knowledge. Coverage of the National Electrical Code® is integrated throughout to ensure learners are prepared as competent journeyman electricians.
Industrial Carpentry
Carpentry helps learners to build general carpentry skills, before moving into advanced topical coverage of framing and finish carpentry, as well as concrete and form carpentry.
Instrumentation
Prepares learners for a career as skilled instrument fitters and technicians with rigorous, industry-designed content. This curriculum covers critical concepts needed in this broad and demanding field, including piping, tubing, fasteners, relays and timers, instrument calibration and configuration and more.
Pipefitting
Covers key concepts of installation and repair of high- and low-pressure pipe systems used in manufacturing, in the generation of electricity and in the heating and cooling of buildings.
Scaffold Builder
This one-level Scaffolding curriculum prepares leaners to perform safely on the job site, with information on tools and equipment they will use in the industry as well as discussion of stationary, mobile and suspension scaffolds. Coverage of the math required to perform on the job is also included.
Welding
This program is designed for everyone from beginners to advanced welders. We offer a comprehensive, self-paced curriculum that allows you to learn at your own pace. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to sharpen your skills. Our welding classes cover everything from beginners to TIG, Plate, and Pipe.
The Pitzer Family Education Foundation is proud to partner with
Parks Insurance Agency
A community-focused organization committed to helping individuals and families access affordable, reliable health coverage. Through this collaboration, PFEF has assisted more than 1,000 people—including incarcerated individuals preparing for reentry—in obtaining free-to-low-premium insurance options that support long-term stability and overall well-being. This partnership strengthens our mission by ensuring that those we serve have the essential health resources they need to succeed as they pursue education, employment, and a fresh start.
Fuel Education, End Recidivism
Help us bridge the gap: with our grant ending September 1, 2024, your gift keeps kids of the incarcerated and returning citizens on track for college and trade careers—turning second chances into thriving futures.