New Friends New Life (NFNL) announces Uma Thurman, award-winning actress and activist, will headline the 20th Anniversary Luncheon on Friday, November 9, 2018, at 11:30 a.m., at the OMNI Dallas Hotel, 555 S. Lamar Street. Previously scheduled speaker, Mandy Moore, will no longer attend the luncheon due to an unexpected production schedule conflict.
“New Friends New Life is honored to bring the lauded and talented Uma Thurman to Dallas,” said Kim Robinson, Chief Executive Officer. “Ms. Thurman’s heart for those experiencing poverty, and her willingness to stand on behalf of those whose human rights have been violated, are just a few of the many reasons why we are honored that she has accepted our invitation to join us in celebrating survivors and advocates during this milestone event.”
Luncheon Co-Chairs are Connie Kleinert Babikian, McCall Cravens, and Jill Meyer, and Honorary Co-Chairs are Marla and Mike Boone.
Additionally, New Friends New Life announces the four 2018 ProtectHER Award recipients: Victor Boutros, founder of the Human Trafficking Institute (international recipient); Becca Stevens, founder and president of Thistle Farms (national recipient); the Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (state recipient); and The Dallas Morning News (local recipient). The award recipients were recently announced at a 20th Anniversary Luncheon Launch Party, at the home of Gigi and Roy Salley, and they will be formerly recognized at a VIP Platinum Dinner for top sponsors the evening of November 8, and celebrated at the luncheon on Friday, November 9.
“New Friends New Life is thrilled to honor these international, national, state, and local partners in our advocacy and prevention efforts to eradicate sex trafficking and exploitation,” Robinson shared. “Sex trafficking is a global issue that requires global, collaborative partnerships in order to save lives. Our ProtectHER awardees make us proud to be part of this dedicated network of advocates who are committed to safeguarding the rights of women and girls here in our city, across the country and around the world.”
International ProtectHER honoree Victor Boutros founded the Human Trafficking Institute in 2015. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the institute works to end trafficking at its source by empowering police and prosecutors to stop traffickers by working inside the criminal justice system using embedded experts, world-class training, investigative resources, and evidence-based research. The institute developed a groundbreaking model to train specialized trafficking enforcement units in six federal districts through two components: mastering core knowledge and working with experienced trafficking experts.
National ProtectHER honoree Becca Stevens is the founder and president of Thistle Farms. Its mission is to heal, empower, and employ women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction by providing safe and supportive housing, the opportunity for economic independence, and a strong community of advocates and partners. The program offers a two-year residential program, based in Nashville, that provides housing, medical care, therapy, education, and job training free of charge for up to 32 women and serves hundreds more through advocacy and referral services.
The 2018 state ProtectHER honoree is the Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault. Founded by researchers at the University of Texas and headquartered in Austin, the institute advances knowledge about interpersonal violence through research, education, and service in multidisciplinary, strategic partnerships with researchers, educators, practitioners, policy makers, and other members of the community. The work of the institute has led to policy and program recommendations, now being constructed with a valid understanding of the scope of trafficking in Texas.
The Dallas Morning News, this year’s local ProtectHER honoree, supports the fight against human and sex trafficking by reporting on incidents within the DFW area and raising awareness in the local community that these crimes are happening right here, in our own backyards.
“All of our ProtectHER Award recipients are playing a key role in helping us put traffickers out of business,” Robinson added. “Collectively, we are sounding the alarm that our girls and our women are not for sale.”
A limited number of tickets for the 20th Anniversary Luncheon are available from $250; sponsorships are also available beginning at $2500. For more information, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email development director Priya Murphy at pmurphy@newfriendsnewlife.org or call (214)-217-8652.
About New Friends New Life:
New Friends New Life, founded in 1998, restores and empowers formerly trafficked girls and sexually exploited women and children. By providing access to education, job training, interim financial assistance, mental health and spiritual support, New Friends New Life helps women, teenage girls and children overcome backgrounds of abuse, addiction, poverty and limited opportunities. For more information about New Friends New Life, visit their website at www.newfriendsnewlife.org or call (214) 965-0935.