Miles of Freedom

Since November 2025, North Texas Giving Day funds have facilitated $6,885.31 in documented financial assistance and transportation access for Miles of Freedom clients. This includes $4,743.31 in direct financial assistance and 357 DART passes with a general-public value of $2,142.

The $4,743.31 in direct financial assistance helped 63 individuals address specific needs involving housing, utilities, government-issued documents, employment, driver education, licensing, and transportation home.

One of the most significant uses of the fund was helping clients obtain essential government-issued documents. Miles of Freedom spent $1,190.75 on 46 document-related transactions, including 24 birth certificate orders and 22 state ID, driver’s license, or replacement license transactions. These documents are necessary for clients to apply for employment, secure housing, access public benefits, open bank accounts, and complete many of the other steps required to rebuild their lives.

The fund also provided $1,443.09 in rental assistance for five individuals and $1,235.84 in utility assistance for five individuals. Additional funds paid for driver education courses, employment-related licensing expenses, required work shoes, fingerprinting, school uniforms for children and transportation that helped individuals return home.

Transportation assistance was another critical use of the fund. Miles of Freedom distributed 357 DART passes to approximately 93 clients. At the general-public price of $6 per pass, these passes provided $2,142 in transportation value. Of the passes distributed, 214 were provided at no cost, while 141 were made available to clients at a 60% discount.

The passes helped clients travel to work, job interviews, job fairs, job orientations, workforce-training programs, medical and treatment appointments, shelters, housing services, DPS and vital-records offices, parole and probation appointments, court, GED classes, and public-benefit offices.

Miles of Freedom: Empowering Lives After Incarceration

Founded by Richard Miles, who spent 15 years incarcerated due to a wrongful conviction, Miles of Freedom was built from lived experience. We understand firsthand the barriers people face after incarceration and the systems that often fail to support successful reentry. Our work is grounded in the belief that dignity, opportunity, and education are essential to rebuilding lives and strengthening communities.

The Aubrey Jones Legacy Fund

In 2023, Miles of Freedom introduced the Aubrey Jones Legacy Fund, named in honor of our Co-Founder, Mr. Aubrey Jones. This designated fund directly addresses the urgent urgent needs of individuals who struggle to secure essentials or find themselves in crisis. North Texas Giving Day is the only annual fundraiser that funds the Aubrey Jones Legacy Fund. This fund is a client financial assistance fund that the program area uses to provide direct financial aid to clients. All funds raised must last us until the next North Texas Giving Day.

The Struggle for Essentials

For the individuals we serve, an unpaid bill, a missing document, or a lack of transportation can delay employment and stability. A birth certificate can allow someone to obtain identification. An ID can make it possible to apply for a job or housing. A bus pass can help someone report to work, attend an interview, access healthcare, comply with supervision requirements, or reach a safe place to stay.

Lending a Hand Up

Your North Texas Giving Day contribution helps Miles of Freedom remove these specific barriers and provide practical support as individuals work toward employment, stability, and successful reentry. Any unused funds are used to cover general operating expenses to continue the mission. Every donation makes a tangible impact in someone’s life.

North Texas Giving Day is the only annual fundraiser that funds the Aubrey Jones Legacy Fund. All funds raised must last us the entire year until the next North Texas Giving Day. Join us in supporting the Aubrey Jones Legacy Fund. 

Together, we can provide a lifeline to those facing adversity, ensuring that no one is left behind.