Thank you to all who donated to this campaign!
Giving Tuesday is November 30, a global day of giving, and
we're honoring the day in two very special ways:
First, donate $100 or more by midnight on Giving Tuesday, November 30 and you will receive an origami crane or wolf (pictured above) handmade by exoneree, Scott Hornoff. Inspired by the Japanese tradition and honoring the history of folding paper for symbolism and hope, Scott saw courage and freedom in these special animals during his wrongful imprisonment. Below, read how origami became a part of Scott's fight to overturn his conviction.
Second, Giving Tuesday is the official launch of our year end MATCH campaign! Thanks to a generous donor, all donations made from November 30 through December 31, 2021 will be DOUBLED (up to $25,000) dollar-for-dollar for twice (2X) the impact.
Learn more about Scott’s story, how he discovered origami, and the symbolism of the crane and wolf below.
Scott’s Story
Envisioning Freedom Through Origami
"In 1996, without any witnesses or evidence linking me to the crime, I was tried and convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison for a crime I did not commit. I was scared, in shock and numb. I knew my fight for truth and freedom was going to take years, and I knew I was going to have a lot of time on my hands. Besides writing thousands of letters asking for help and spending countless hours in the law library researching my case and helping others, I read hundreds of books, wrote a screenplay, poems, and taught myself to draw, but one of the first things I did was learn to fold origami.
I purchased a book of origami through a popular inmate bookselling company (Edward R Hamilton), and the two folds that I gravitated towards were the crane and the wolf. The wolf symbolizes courage, strength, perseverance and freedom. The crane reminded me somewhat of a phoenix, and I imagined myself ultimately spreading my wings and rising out of the fire and ashes of my confinement. I mailed many to family and friends, and even gave a few to other inmates.
Since my release and exoneration in 2002, I have revisited my book of origami from time to time and folded cranes and wolves, recalling the time I sat on my prison bunk doing that very thing for hours. Recently, a thought came to me of how I might share this art with others while also helping some of my heroes, the New England Innocence Project. This is my small way of trying to give back to a group of people who tirelessly fight for others' freedom and to prove their innocence when they have been all but forgotten."
- Scott Hornoff, Exoneree