Three Organizations Honored with “ProtectHer” Awards During NFNL Luncheon Featuring Kevin Costner
Each year, New Friends New Life (NFNL) acknowledges three exemplary organizations that align with their mission to restore and empower girls and women who have previously fallen victim to trafficking and sexual exploitation. This year, the winners of the 2015 “ProtectHer” awards will be celebrated at the WINGS luncheon on April 10th, featuring Kevin Costner as the keynote speaker.
The Letot Girls’ Residential Treatment Center focuses on supporting the youngest victims of trauma in the Dallas community. Annually, over 9,700 young people aged 10 to 17 interact with law enforcement in Dallas County, many of whom are fleeing from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. NFNL has partnered with the Letot Center to provide licensed professional counselors who offer recovery therapy for sexually abused and high-risk teenage girls. Studies indicate that when therapeutic services are delivered alongside essential community resources, the likelihood of recovery improves significantly for both youth and families.
“Girls who have been trafficked endure extensive hardship and disruption in their formative years,” commented Caren Prothro, President Emeritus of the Letot Center Capital Foundation, who will be accepting the award. “Although we cannot change their past, we can offer them a nurturing and secure environment to help them rebuild their futures.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Human Trafficking Squad is collaborating with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to implement the Interdiction for the Protection of Children Program. This initiative trains over 7,000 patrol officers on how to identify, intervene, and rescue young victims of sex trafficking and exploitation, ensuring that these children have a trained officer to rely on for hope and support.
Sabre , a leading technology provider in the global travel and tourism sector, launched the “Passport to Freedom” initiative as part of their corporate responsibility efforts in 2012. This extensive program aims to combat human trafficking and aid survivors. By uniting the travel and tourism industry, Sabre strives to address child sex trafficking and modern slavery. They also introduced a groundbreaking scholarship program to help trafficking survivors access post-secondary education and vocational training, opening doors to viable career opportunities.
Tickets for this year’s 12th Annual WINGS Luncheon are priced at $175, with sponsorships available. For further details, please visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org or contact (214) 965-0935.
“Throughout my life, I’ve struggled to recognize my own worth, which has hindered my ability to connect with others. Discovering my value as a person, regardless of my actions, words, or appearance, has been an empowering journey. I am grateful to those who believed in me, allowing me to finally open my eyes to my true self.”
– a survivor reflecting on her experience with New Friends New Life’s counseling services
Kevin Costner: A Brief Biography
Born in Southern California to a family of modest means, Kevin Costner developed a deep appreciation for the American landscape due to his unsettled upbringing.
After enrolling at California State University in 1973 and experiencing a period of drifting, a chance encounter with Richard Burton on an airplane prompted him to pursue acting.
Costner moved with his wife to Los Angeles, where he worked various jobs, including truck driving and tour guiding, while auditioning for acting roles. He made his film debut in ‘Malibu Hot Summer’ in 1974, and after securing small roles, he gained recognition in Lawrence Kasdan’s ‘Silverado’, which set him on the path to stardom.
In films such as ‘The Untouchables’, ‘No Way Out’, and the baseball classics ‘Bull Durham’, ‘Field of Dreams’, and ‘Ray Kinsella’, Costner established himself as an iconic leading man.
Following ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’, he starred in Oliver Stone’s ‘JFK’, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, and then appeared in the successful film ‘The Bodyguard’, which co-starred Whitney Houston.
Costner took on challenging roles in ‘A Perfect World’ and ‘Wyatt Earp’, before facing a setback with the film ‘Waterworld’. However, he rebounded with ‘Tin Cup’ and continued steady work with films like ‘For the Love of the Game’ and ‘3000 Miles to Graceland’, eventually revisiting historical themes in the acclaimed ‘Thirteen Days’ about the Cuban missile crisis.
His later works include successful performances in ‘The Upside of Anger’, earning him the San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor, along with roles in ‘Rumor Has It’, ‘The Guardian’, ‘Mr. Brooks’, ‘Swing Vote’, ‘The New Daughter’, and ‘The Company Men’ in 2010.
In recent years, Costner starred in films including ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’ (2013), ‘3 Days to Kill’ (2014), and ‘Draft Day’ (2014).
“I believe that Whitney (Houston) would encourage young girls to protect their bodies and cherish the miraculous gift of their lives.”
– Kevin Costner, from his eulogy at Houston’s funeral
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NFNL is set to host its 12th Annual WINGS Luncheon with featured speaker Kevin Costner.
