Our History
From a prison gate to a movement for change.
Project Avary was founded in 1999 at San Quentin Prison. For years, San Quentin’s prison chaplain, Earl Smith, spent weekends watching children line up outside the prison gates, waiting to visit their incarcerated fathers. He knew these children faced more than just separation from their loved ones. Many would grow up navigating stigma, instability, and a justice system that often failed them. Too often, he saw these same children return years later — not as visitors, but as incarcerated adults alongside their fathers.
Determined to break this cycle, Chaplain Smith shared what he had seen with Danny Rifkin, longtime manager of the Grateful Dead, who had been visiting the prison to collaborate with the San Quentin Choir. Moved by the reality these children faced, Rifkin joined Smith in imagining something that did not yet exist: a space where children of incarcerated parents could experience community, belonging, and long-term support.
With the help of friends and supporters, they launched Project Avary, beginning with a summer camp that gave children the freedom to play, connect, and just be kids. That first camp laid the foundation for something far greater, something that has since shaped the lives of thousands of young people.
Camp: The Foundation of Our Work
Summer camp was Project Avary’s first program, and it remains at the heart of our work today. From the beginning, we recognized that joy, play, and shared experiences in nature are essential to healing, trust, and community building. At camp, children have the freedom to simply be kids — free from stigma, free from judgment — learning and growing through play. This has always been a cornerstone of the Avary experience.
Today, this tradition continues as we gather each year for four weeks of sleep-away camp along the Northern California coast, giving young people a chance to experience adventure, build friendships, and find a sense of belonging.
But camp was just the beginning. To ensure that young people stay connected beyond the summer, we expanded our programs to include year-round weekend retreats, day-long adventure outings in nature, and after-school support groups. These experiences strengthen relationships, foster personal growth, and create a lasting sense of belonging that stays with them throughout the year.
A Pioneering Organization Looking Ahead to the Future
Project Avary was one of the first nonprofit organizations in the country, dedicated to supporting children with incarcerated parents. From the beginning, we set out to provide children with a long-term community of support and belonging, where they could build connections with peers and adult mentors who truly understand their experiences.
We begin working with children as young as age 8 and commit to supporting them through age 25. These deep, lasting relationships are why youth often refer to Project Avary as their "Avary Family" and second home.
Over the years, our programs have expanded to include leadership development, weekend retreats, and national support groups, now reaching youth in 32 states. We also advocate within schools to help educators better understand and support this often-overlooked population. Yet through all this growth, our mission remains the same: to break the cycle of incarceration and build a future where every child has the support, guidance, and opportunities they deserve.
