On February 5, at its second-annual Redemption Social, Parole Project recognized two leaders whose dedication to second chances continues to strengthen its mission.
Barbara Freiberg, a second-term legislator and retired educator, was honored with the 2026 Champion Award, and Mike Wampold, a commercial real estate developer, received the 2026 Hero Award. A large group of supporters including legislators, business leaders, and philanthropists gathered for the celebration, reflecting the growing community commitment to expanding opportunity and dignity for people returning home from prison.
“Our organization is rooted in this community and while we are focused on the success of our clients we are also invested in the success of our community. We work really hard to ensure that the people we serve are not only accepted into this community but are giving back to this community, working in this community, and are taxpayers in this community and do community service here,” said Parole Project Executive Director Andrew Hundley. “And the individuals we are honoring tonight have not only given of themselves to our organization and exemplify our mission, but we recognize that they have done incredible service within this community far beyond our organization.”
Freiberg spoke about how honored she is to work alongside Parole Project and emphasized how essential community support is to advancing its mission.
“Redemption is not an abstract idea,” she said. “It’s personal. It’s human. It happens because people choose compassion over convenience. “
She acknowledged the attendees for supporting an organization that helps formerly incarcerated men and women reacclimate to life after prison.
“You stand with individuals at moments when hope feels fragile. You remind them and all of us that a past mistake does not have to define the future. That accountability and opportunity can co-exist and that second chances are not just generous, they are smart, just, and necessary,” Freiberg said. “As a legislator I see the impact of the Parole Project daily. Your commitment affirms why this work matters and why it really matters to me. And why I will continue to fight for things that can make your work more productive in our state. Thank you for providing ladders and not labels. Thank you for doing the hard, often unseen work, that makes Baton Rouge and Louisiana a more just and compassionate place to live and work.”
Parole Project marks its 10‑year anniversary this year, a decade of opening doors and expanding opportunities for people returning home from prison. Since 2016, the organization has helped more than 675 men and women rebuild their lives after incarceration.
Today, Parole Project owns and operates 47 properties and provides comprehensive, wrap‑around reentry services. These include case management services, transitional and post‑transitional housing, behavioral health support through a dedicated social work team, employment assistance, and a robust curriculum designed to help clients navigate a rapidly evolving world of technology and shifting social norms. At every step, Parole Project remains committed to meeting the needs of formerly incarcerated people so they can thrive, contribute, and become fully engaged members of their communities.
Wampold, the Hero Award recipient, is the founder and CEO of Wampold Companies and has been involved in the development, construction, renovation, ownership and management of real estate holdings for more than 40 years. His notable projects include: the Renaissance and Watermark hotels, Harveston, an 1,800-acre mixed use development in south Baton Rouge and Shaw Plaza and City Plaza office buildings. After accepting his award, he offered brief remarks and reflected on his recent tour of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, coordinated by Parole Project.
“This an honor for me for being part of this program. It’s one thing to offer some jobs and write a check but it’s another thing to give your life to something like this. If you could imagine spending 40 plus years of your life in a highly structured environment with little leeway to the left or right and then after that period of time being turned out to society highly unstructured, without friends, without family, possibly being just lost out there,” he said. “That’s what Parole Project is all about. It’s about giving these guys a safe landing. Helping them find work. Helping them find housing … I can’t thank you enough for what you do and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
