A New Path: The Fountain Fund

After spending nearly a decade incarcerated, Todd Connelly returned home determined to build a different future. As he worked to rebuild his life, one major barrier stood in the way: without a driver’s license, it was harder to work, support his family, and move forward independently.

That changed when Todd connected with the Fountain Fund. Through its loan program, he was able to cover the costs needed to reinstate his license. “The Fountain Fund’s loan program was a game changer!” Todd shares. Regaining his ability to drive gave him greater independence and helped create new possibilities for work, family stability, and community involvement.

The loan was one part of a larger period of transformation for Todd. With support from people in his recovery community, he continued building confidence and stability and eventually began helping others as a recovery coach. In 2025, Riverside Community Care honored him with a CARE Award for his compassionate work.

Reflecting on how far he has come, Todd says, “It’s given me myself back, like this is who I was always supposed to be. It’s allowed me to let people love me. It’s allowed me to have peace.”