Over 1,000 attended inspiring annual luncheon featuring Uma Thurman as speaker, honoring the organization’s three founders, and celebrating the restoration and empowerment of formally trafficked and sexually exploited women, teens, and children

 Over 1,000 guests joined New Friends New Life (NFNL) on November 9 at the Omni Dallas in celebrating 20 years of successful outreach to victims of human sex trafficking, increased awareness of this widespread problem, powerful legislative reform, and success stories of survivors, empowered to gain long-term stability.

The luncheon featured Uma Thurman as keynote speaker and raised $1.3 million to help the organization continue its mission to restore and empower formally trafficked and sexually exploited women, teens, and children. New Friends New Life Founders Nancy Ann Hunt, Pat Schenkel, and Gail Turner were honored for their vision and creation of the organization two decades ago to help one woman.  Today the nonprofit has reached thousands of women who have been victims of sex trafficking and has expanded its mission and services to encompass the broader scope of educating and preventing “modern-day slavery.”

Dallas District Attorney Faith Johnson gave the invocation, and former NFL player and Men’s Advocacy Group board member Tyler Clutts introduced this year’s 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 formally recognized at a VIP Platinum Dinner for top sponsors the evening of November 8.

New Friends New Life CEO Kim Robinson reminded attendees of the amazing work that the nonprofit has been able to accomplish as a result of their generosity of these 20 years and introduced a video which captured the three founders as they recounted the early days of the organization – one of the first of its kind in the nation to address human trafficking.  Especially touching was the story founder Pat Schenkel shared when she learned one of her daughter’s childhood friends had herself become a victim that was saved by the work of New Friends New Life and is now a mentor to women through the direct outreach of the organization.  Kim welcomed her along with three other survivors to the stage where they received a standing ovation by everyone in attendance.

Marla and Mike Boone served as the luncheon’s honorary chairs while Connie Kleinert Babikian, McCall Cravens, and Jill Meyer served as this year’s luncheon co-chairs.  Mrs. Babikian is the third generation of women in her family to work with New Friends New Life.  Her grandmother is founder Nancy Ann Hunt, and her mother is board member Ashlee Kleinert. 

The event culminated in a moderated conversation with Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award- nominated actress Uma Thurman and NFNL board member Shelly Slater.  Thurman continued to remark that she was “absolutely blown away by what’s going on” regarding the accomplishments of NFNL.  “I’m so moved by this love-based conversation,” she said.  “What I see in this room is what is missing in other parts of the world – a lack of judgment, love, and support…. We need more of a commitment to support that in women.”

After talking about the mission to end human trafficking, Thurman also discussed her personal life. She talked about her childhood growing up in a family with three brothers and going alone to New York City at the age of 15 to model. Highlights from Thurman’s remarks include: her favorite designer is friend Zac Posen, how long it takes to get ready for the Oscars, and the moment when she was in awe meeting Robert Redford and Paul Newman.  She is the proud mother of three children.  Her oldest daughter Maya is now following in her mom’s footsteps and is acting in the series “Stranger Things.”  Her son Levon is 16 and daughter Luna is 6.

Serving approximately 1,000 women, teens, and children annually, New Friends New Life provides holistic services for victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation including access to education, job training, interim financial assistance, mental health counseling, and spiritual support. By partnering with law enforcement, corporate sponsors, community organizations, and individual donors and volunteers, New Friends New Life helps to provide legal assistance, medical services, budget counseling, job-readiness training, and educational opportunities.

Texas ranks 2nd in the country for the most human trafficking, and in Dallas, there are an estimated 400 trafficked teens on the streets each night. New Friends New Life believes this is a community-wide issue and advocates for the victims of sex trafficking by driving state and national legislation and establishing partner groups to raise awareness and encourage volunteerism, including its Circle of Friends board and Men’s Advocacy Group.

Media sponsor was WFAA Channel 8.

New Friends New Life’s 14^th Annual Luncheon on May 10 at the OMNI Dallas Hotel, raised over $1.06 million toward the work of the nonprofit, which restores and empowers formerly trafficked and sexually exploited women, teens, and children.  Honorary luncheon chairs were Gail and Dr. R. Gerald Turner and luncheon chairs were Lisa Cooley and Tanya Foster. Joe Ehrmann, co-founder of the NFL Foundation-funded InSideOut Initiative and a former NFL Pro Bowl athlete, named by Parade Magazine as “The Most Important Coach in America” for his work empowering youth – a critical component to ending sex trafficking and exploitation – was keynote speaker.  Singer Songwriter Gayle Arbuckle provided a moving song, which inspired 1,060 guests to be the change needed to help prevent a crime that enslaves young American girls at an average age of 13.  David Pughes, Interim Chief, Dallas Police Department, gave the invocation and Shelly Slater directed the audience’s attention to the screens for the debut of a thought-provoking video portraying the scenario and thoughts of a young girl trapped in the life of sex trafficking.

Chris Kleinert, chair of the New Friends New Life Men’s Advocacy Group Board, was joined by Jeremy Hodge, a student at Parish Episcopal School, to honor four ProtectHer award recipients – international, national, state, and local partners in the organization’s advocacy and prevention efforts to eradicate sex trafficking and exploitation: INTERNATIONAL HONOREE: Airline Ambassadors International, the first-time international recipient, holds training sessions in airports around the world teaching all airline personnel the key warning signs of trafficking. Flight attendant Shelia Fedrick, who gained national recognition this year for rescuing a young girl on a flight from Seattle to San Francisco, was honored along with Airline Ambassadors International founder Nancy Rivard.  NATIONAL HONOREE: U.S. Senator Rob Portman is the founder and co-chair of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking and has authored five federal anti-trafficking laws since 2012.  STATE HONOREE: Governor Greg Abbott’s Child Sex Trafficking Team (CCST), which in 2016, changed the landscape of Texas’ fight against the horrific crime that is child sex trafficking.  LOCAL HONOREE: Parish Episcopal School,  piloted the New Friends New Life Men’s Advocacy Group’s manKINDness Project® High School Program, a 60-minute interactive learning experience teaching the next generation how to identify and execute healthy relationships with women and stop the cycle of sex trafficking. Jeremy Hodge was a member of the Parish team – the first to pilot the manKINDness Project Curriculum. Hodge told the audience that one of the most powerful things he learned was how society’s attitudes toward women and girls influence sex trafficking and exploitation. He wants to change that and feels that the program should be in every school in the nation.

Throughout the ballroom young men in a variety of colorful high school football jerseys represented five different teams from Berkner, Lake Highlands, Parish, Pierce, and Richardson High Schools.  Each school has participated in New Friend New Life’s manKINDness® Project curriculum for high school athletes in an effort to engage in dialogue about respect for young women and themselves.

“New Friends New Life has made great strides this past year through our Men’s Advocacy Group’s manKINDness Project® High School Program, a 60-minute interactive learning experience tailored to teen boys which aligns perfectly with Joe Ehrmann’s message to youth,” said Kelly Cruse, executive director, New Friends New Life. “Joe’s motivational message supports our philosophy that we must be proactive to create a long-term impact on this horrific and widespread industry.”

Mike Doocy, Fox 4 anchor and member of the Men’s Advocacy Group Board, took the stage to introduce keynote speaker Joe Ehrmann. He told the audience “while Joe Ehrmann gained notoriety due to his superior athletic acumen of the football field, he became a legend due to the investment he has made in the lives of men and young boys.”

Ehrmann captivated the crowd and encouraged the audience to work to understand “our own moral responsibility” relating it to New Friends New Life’s message, “Not our children, not our city.”  “We must create better citizens and contribute to our communities if we are going to eradicate this. Whenever you have empathy and can turn it into action that equals compassion which produces moral courage.”  He continued to say that apathy and indifference are our two greatest problems and encouraged the audience to step out of their comfort zones and have “our own personal transformation so that we can help transform others.”  Ehrmann now devotes his life to teaching young men a whole new meaning of masculinity. “Being a man means emphasizing relationships and having a cause bigger than yourself. It means accepting responsibility and leading courageously. It means that empathy, integrity, and living a life of service to others – all are more important than points on a scoreboard.”

Ehrmann’s NFL Foundation-funded InSideOut Initiative is a blueprint for systemic change, transforming the current “win-at-all-costs” sports culture into one that defines and promotes sports as a human growth experience. 

Serving approximately 1,000 women, teens, and children annually, New Friends New Life provides holistic services for victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation including access to education, job training, interim financial assistance, mental health counseling, and spiritual support. By partnering with law enforcement, corporate sponsors, community organizations, and individual donors and volunteers, New Friends New Life helps to provide legal assistance, medical services, budget counseling, job-readiness training, and educational opportunities. The nonprofit’s High Risk and Trafficked Teen Girls Program offers abuse recovery groups for adolescents, teaching girls, ages 12 to 17, how to recognize and ultimately recover from abuse. The program is an intervention effort to help girls avoid a lifetime of exploitation as human trafficking victims.

Media Sponsors were The Dallas Morning News and WFAA.

A former NFL Pro Bowler, named by Parade Magazine as “The Most Important Coach in America,” Ehrmann is an award-winning advocate for empowering youth through character-based education and transformational coaching

New Friends New Life, a nonprofit organization that restores and empowers formerly trafficked and sexually exploited women, teens, and children, announces Joe Ehrmann, co-founder of the NFL Foundation-funded InSideOut Initiative and a former NFL Pro Bowler, named by Parade Magazine as “The Most Important Coach in America” for his work empowering youth – a critical component to ending human sex trafficking – will headline the 14th Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the OMNI Dallas Hotel, 555 S. Lamar Street. Luncheon Chairs are Lisa Cooley and Tanya Foster, and Honorary Chairs are Gail and R. Gerald Turner.  The previous speaker, Ashton Kutcher, canceled his appearance at the luncheon due to personal reasons.

“Joe Ehrmann is a passionate advocate of creating positive change among our youth, aligning perfectly with New Friends New Life’s goal of prevention as a critical way to end human sex trafficking,” said Lisa Cooley.  “He speaks across the country, motivating others to step up and be the change that we need to help prevent a crime that enslaves young American girls at an average age of 13 – a crime happening in our own backyard.”

Joe Ehrmann is co-founder of the NFL Foundation-funded InSideOut Initiative, a blueprint for systemic change, transforming the current “win-at-all-costs” sports culture – where the value is often defined by the scoreboard – into one that defines and promotes sports as a human growth experience.  An All American football player, Erhmann was named to Syracuse University’s All-Century Team. He lettered in lacrosse and received the Arents Award, SU’s Most Distinguished Alumni honor for his contributions to society.  He played professional football for 13 years and was named Baltimore Colt’s Man of the Year.  He was the NFL’s first Ed Block Courage Award recipient and named “The Most Important Coach in America” by Parade Magazine.  The Institute for International Sport chose him as one of The Most Influential Sports Educators in America, and his revolutionary concepts of transformational coaching are the subject of his book, InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives.  Joe is also the subject of The New York Times best-seller, Season of Life:  A Football Star, a Boy, A Journey to Manhood. Among many other awards, the Baltimore Business Journal selected him as the Renaissance Person of the Decade for his dedication and commitment to Baltimore City’s betterment.   He was the National Fatherhood Initiative’s Man of the Year and the Frederick Douglas National Man of the Year award recipient for empowering youth to prevent rape and other forms of male violence.  

“New Friends New Life has made great strides this past year through our Men’s Advocacy Group’s manKINDness Project® High School Program, a 60-minute interactive learning experience tailored to teen boys which aligns perfectly with Joe’s message to the youth of today,” said Kelly Cruse, executive director, New Friends New Life. “In fact, our local ProtectHer award recipient this year is Parish Episcopal School who by participating in this project, is teaching the next generation how to identify and execute healthy relationships with women and stop the cycle of sex trafficking. Joe Ehrmann’s motivational message supports our philosophy that we must be proactive to create a long-term impact on this horrific and widespread industry.”

“In Dallas alone, sex trafficking is a $99 million dollar criminal enterprise,” said Tanya Foster, luncheon co- chair.  “Enlightened by so many staggering statistics and stories from survivors, Lisa and I are committed to rallying the support needed to bring an end to this injustice. There is much work to be done. By joining us on May 10, you can help us expand outreach to connect with the highest risk children in our city before local traffickers do.”

Serving approximately 1,000 women, teens, and children annually, New Friends New Life provides holistic services for victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation including access to education, job training, interim financial assistance, mental health counseling, and spiritual support. By partnering with law enforcement, corporate sponsors, community organizations, and individual donors and volunteers, New Friends New Life helps to provide legal assistance, medical services, budget counseling, job- readiness training, and educational opportunities.

The nonprofit’s High Risk and Trafficked Teen Girls Program offers abuse recovery groups for adolescents, teaching girls, ages 12 to 17, how to recognize and ultimately recover from abuse. The program is an intervention effort to help girls avoid a lifetime of exploitation as human trafficking victims. Beginning last year, New Friends New Life now offers community education through The manKINDness® Project curriculum for high school athletes in an effort to engage in dialogue about respect for young women and themselves.

Past New Friends New Life luncheon speakers have included Amal Clooney, Kevin Costner, Sally Field, Barbara P. Bush, Nicholas Sparks, and Harriet Miers.

Sponsorship and individual tickets are available. Contact Jennifer Yarbrough, events@newfriendsnewlife.org, (214) 965-0935.

Three recipients – national, state and local – to be honored at April 14 Luncheon, featuring Amal Clooney 

New Friends New Life (NFNL), a nonprofit that restores and empowers formerly trafficked teen girls and sexually exploited women and children, has announced its 2016 ProtectHer Award recipients. U.S. Senator John Cornyn and U.S. Representative Ted Poe;  The 2015 Texas Legislative Session; and Advocate Libby Spears, Playground Curriculum  will be honored at the April 14 New Friends New Life WINGS Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, for their visionary guidance and leadership in protecting the rights of women and girls.  The luncheon, featuring Amal Clooney as headliner, is chaired by The Honorable Jeanne Phillips and Honorary Co-Chairs Laura Bush, Ruth Altshuler, Caren Prothro and Annette Simmons. 

“New Friends New Life is thrilled to honor these national, state, and local partners in our advocacy and prevention efforts to eradicate human trafficking,” said Katie Pedigo, chief executive officer, New Friends New Life. “We are grateful for their dedication to this crime that is happening in our country, in our state, and in our backyard. By working together, we will continue to safeguard the rights of women and girls who are at-risk or have already suffered the degradation and trauma of human trafficking.”

The 2016 national ProtectHer honorees, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas and U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, served as sponsors of a bill – The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, signed into law on May 29, 2015, to improve law enforcement’s ability to target traffickers and buyers and protect and expand the rights of trafficking victims.  The act, which increases criminal fines on convicted traffickers and child predators, will create about $60 million in federal grants that state and local governments can use for more shelter space, specialized court programs and law enforcement programs targeting human trafficking.

 “The law changes the focus of criminal prosecution from the sex workers to those who traffic or buy trafficked labor or sex,” Rep. Poe said. “With the passing of the act, law enforcement has more power to seize traffickers’ assets and use the money for victim restitution.”

The 2016 state ProtectHer honoree is The 2015 Texas Legislative Session, accepted by Rep. Tan Parker – District 63 and Rep. Morgan Meyer – District 108. With Texas ranking second in the U.S. for calls to the human trafficking hotline, New Friends New Life testified on behalf of the women and girls of Texas, and the results were positive.  Policy makers listened and passed 20 bills to help Texas move towards a “no tolerance zone” for traffickers and exploiters.

 “The accomplishments of the 2015 Texas Legislative Session will serve to protect our citizens and our children from the horrors of human trafficking,” said Rep. Meyer. “As a father, it is an honor to continue to advocate for education and legislation that supports and protects the victims of these crimes in the overall fight against human trafficking.”

The 2016 local ProtectHer honoree, Playground Curriculum’s Libby Spears, impacts the lives of young girls by educating them and empowering them with the language, skills and resources they need to protect themselves and their peers from sexual exploitation and trafficking.  Spears directed “PLAYGROUND: The Child Sex Trade in America,” a documentary film produced by George Clooney, Steven Soderbergh and Abigail Disney that investigates the underground epidemic of child sexual exploitation and trafficking in North America.  Through the NEST Foundation, Spears launched an educational curriculum to take directly into communities across America. New Friends New Life was honored to serve as the curriculum’s facilitators in Dallas area schools.

The national, state and local ProtectHer Awards will be presented at the April 14 New Friends New Life 13^th Annual WINGS Luncheon by the New Friends New Life’s Men’s Advocacy Group Board, formed in 2015, to mobilize men to take action against sex trafficking and exploitation by raising public awareness, legal advocacy, and corporate engagement.

“These awards recognize people truly impacting change to improve the lives of trafficked and exploited women and girls who need our voice,” said Chris Kleinert, CEO and President of Hunt Consolidated Investments and Chair of New Friends New Life’s Men's Advocacy Group Board.  “It is our hope these awards inspire and motivate other people to stand up and join us in this important fight.”

 “All of our ProtectHer Award recipients are playing a key role in helping us move Texas closer to a no-tolerance zone for those who prey upon our children,” Pedigo added. “Our women and girls are not for sale.”

Tickets for the 13^th Annual WINGS luncheon available from $200; sponsorships also available.  For more information, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org or call (214)965-0935. 

The nonprofit’s largest fundraiser to date also kicked off a new men’s advocacy group to create a greater awareness of human trafficking

Two-time Academy Award-winning actor, director, and producer Kevin Costner was the keynote speaker of the Friends New Life (NFNL) 12^th Annual WINGS Luncheon, raising $1.1 million to support victims of sex trafficking and commercial exploitation, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas on April 10.  The sold-out crowd of 1,600 was treated to a “Conversation with Kevin Costner” as he joined local movie producer Gary Cogill on stage. Past speakers have included Sally Field, Barbara P. Bush, Nicholas Sparks and Harriet Miers.

Luncheon Chair The Honorable Jeanne Johnson Phillips joined Honorary Co-Chairs Ruth Altshuler and former First Lady Laura Bush and incoming Board Chair Nancy Ann Hunt in promoting the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser to date.

The day’s activities began with a VIP Reception where top donors and special guests had a chance to meet Costner and take pictures, followed by a few brief remarks by Costner on stage, facilitated by Jeanne Johnson Phillips, event chair.   Costner commented on how movies “can bring us together” and that “each of you feel like you know me from my movies.”  He highlighted some of his movies to a captive audience including Ann Barbier, Nancy Best, Suzy Gekiere, Nancy Ann and Ray Hunt , Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, Bobby Lyle, Christina Lynch, Sandy Nachman, Lisa Schlachter, Marianne Staubach, Sue Strauss, Gail and Gerald Turner, Lisa Trout, and a couple hundred more.

Coinciding with Costner’s participation, NFNL launched a men’s advocacy group, consisting of an 18-member governing board, to mobilize area men to personally and collectively act against human trafficking by raising awareness through advocacy and volunteerism.

“New Friends New Life is about protecting the most vulnerable citizens of our city – our children,” said Jeanne Johnson Phillips, luncheon chair. “With an estimated 400 teens on the streets each night as targets of human traffickers, it is incumbent upon each of us who care about Dallas to send a message that Dallas is a no tolerance zone for human trafficking.”

Referencing the statistics on human trafficking highlighted at the luncheon, Costner said, “These numbers are bothering people, the numbers bother me.  And I can tell they bother the room…so we’re kind of in this together.  I have three daughters, and I have told my children every day since the day they were born they are special.  But I never fail to end that sentence with “that does not make you better than anybody.”

“My daughters know what a man’s hands feel like that love them, and some of these women have not been told they were special and had hands on them that love them so that they know the difference.”

During the luncheon, NFNL honored local, state and national recipients of the organization’s ProtectHer Awards. The Letot Girls’ Residential Treatment Center, Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division Human Trafficking Squad and Sabre were honored for their visionary guidance and leadership in protecting the rights of women and girls.

The Letot Girls’ Center, a collaboration among the Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Commissioners Court and Dallas County Juvenile Department, addresses issues unique to the community’s exploited girls – extreme abuse, trafficking and abandonment.  The DPS’ Human Trafficking Squad conducts investigations connected to human trafficking and related offenses, rescuing victims and arresting suspects.  Sabre, a leading technology provider to the global travel and tourism industry, developed “Passport to Freedom,” a program to provide support to victims and unite the travel and tourism industry in fighting human trafficking.  Additionally, Sabre created an online training course for their employees as well as a scholarship program making post-secondary education and vocational training attainable for trafficking survivors.

“New Friends New Life is beyond grateful to these three outstanding organizations and their service and dedication, making a noticeable difference in the lives of young girls and women,” said Katie Pedigo, executive director, NFNL. 

Kevin Costner began his career in independent films, gradually earning small parts in more established movies. His first major motion picture role was in the coming-of-age comedy “Fandango.” Throughout his career, Costner has varied his choices with comedy, action and drama roles. He has appeared in such popular box-office hits as “No Way Out,” “Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams,” “The Bodyguard” and “Wyatt Earp.” His exceptional filmmaking abilities were showcased in “Dances with Wolves,” which he produced, directed and starred in and which won seven Academy Awards including “Best Picture” and “Best Director.” Costner stars in two films currently showing in movie theaters – “Black or White” and “McFarland U.S.A.” When Costner is not working on films, he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar in his band Modern West in venues across the country.  The band was heading to perform in Oklahoma following the luncheon and then on to perform in Gruene Hall on the weekend.

Costner and Cogill discussed his movies, the effect the movie Giant had on him as a young boy, and his love of cowboy movies.  Costner shared some personal and meaningful stories including the filming of JFK and a day that began with hanging out with Cal Ripken and the Baltimore Orioles, which turned into golf with President H.W. Bush and Andre Agassi, and ended with dinner at the White House – an experience Costner referenced as a great and very memorable day in his life.

Serving more than 1,000 women and children annually, New Friends New Life provides holistic services for sexually exploited girls, women and children including, access to education, job training, interim financial assistance, mental health and spiritual support.  Staff and volunteers provide counseling, a program for children of protégés and a therapeutic prevention program at Letot Girls’ Center and the Dr. Jerome McNeil Detention Center.  By partnering with agencies and individuals, NFNL helps to provide legal assistance, medical services, budget counseling, job-readiness training and educational opportunities. The nonprofit’s High Risk and Trafficked Teen Girls Program teaches girls ages 12 to 17 how to define, recognize and ultimately recover from abuse, helping them to avoid a lifetime as human trafficking victims.

The luncheon concluded with New Friends New Life Executive Director Katie Pedigo coming to podium to announce that $1.1 million had been raised.

“On behalf of those served, New Friends New Life is thankful for the overwhelming community support to provide true transformation and freedom for those who need it so desperately,” added Pedigo. “This organization is about children seeking a life without sexual abuse and emotional trauma.  No 14-year-old girl should be bought and sold at the whim of a “john” and hands of a trafficker.  By supporting New Friends New Life, you are declaring that every young child deserves to be free.”

For more information on New Friends New Life, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org or call (214) 965-0935.