Three “ProtectHer” Awards Presented at the NFNL Luncheon Featuring Kevin Costner
Every year, New Friends New Life (NFNL) honors three organizations committed to uplifting and empowering women and children who have been victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. The winners of the 2015 “ProtectHer” awards will be celebrated at the WINGS luncheon on April 10th, this year featuring Kevin Costner as the keynote speaker.
The Letot Girls’ Residential Treatment Center focuses on aiding the youngest victims in the community. Annually, over 9,700 youth between the ages of 10 and 17 interact with law enforcement in Dallas County, many having fled abusive environments. In collaboration with NFNL, the Letot Girls’ Center is providing licensed counselors who specialize in sexual abuse recovery to support high-risk and trafficked teenage girls. Research indicates that integrating treatment services with critical community resources significantly enhances the likelihood of long-term success for both the youth and their families.
“Girls who have faced exploitation have endured an overwhelming amount of chaos and negativity in their early lives,” stated Caren Prothro, President Emeritus of the Letot Center Capital Foundation, who will accept the award. “While we cannot restore their lost childhoods, we can create a nurturing and safe environment for them to rebuild their futures.”
Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Human Trafficking Squad, in collaboration with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, developed the Interdiction for the Protection of Children program. This initiative has trained over 7,000 patrol officers in identifying, intervening, and rescuing child victims of sex trafficking, ensuring that these children often rely on well-trained officers for their hope of rescue.
Sabre is a prominent technology provider within the global travel and tourism sector. In 2012, they launched “Passport to Freedom,” a program aimed at combatting human trafficking while providing assistance to victims and survivors. This initiative strives to unite the travel and tourism industries to address child sex trafficking and human slavery effectively.
Additionally, Sabre initiated a groundbreaking scholarship program aimed at making higher education and vocational training accessible to survivors of trafficking, helping to pave the way for stable employment opportunities.
Tickets for the 12th Annual WINGS luncheon are available for $175, with various sponsorship opportunities also offered. For further details, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org or call (214)965-0935.
“I’ve spent my life refusing to see, know, or acknowledge myself. My lack of knowing my worth…has prevented others from ever getting through. Truly believing in my own value as a person, irrespective of what I do, say, or look like, has been a liberating journey for me. Thank you for believing in me despite my self-doubt, allowing me to finally recognize myself.”
– a survivor expressing gratitude for the counseling received from New Friends New Life
Kevin Costner: A Brief Biography
Born to a ditch-digger in Southern California, Kevin Costner’s challenging early life instilled in him a deep appreciation for the American landscape.
After attending California State University in 1973, marrying, and experiencing a degree of drifting, Costner was inspired to pursue acting following an encounter with Richard Burton during a flight.
Relocating to Los Angeles with his wife, he took jobs as a truck driver and tour guide while chasing acting opportunities. He made his acting debut in ‘Malibu Hot Summer’ in 1974, and after a series of small roles, he gained prominence with a part in Lawrence Kasdan’s ‘The Big Chill.’ Following a cut from that film, Kasdan cast him in ‘Silverado,’ propelling Costner into the spotlight.
Costner solidified his reputation as a heroic figure through roles in films like ‘The Untouchables,’ ‘No Way Out,’ and the beloved baseball films ‘Bull Durham’ and ‘Field of Dreams.’
Driven by his moral convictions, he not only acted in but also directed ‘Dances With Wolves’ in 1991, earning significant acclaim, including two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, along with a Golden Globe.
Following ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,’ he portrayed a challenging role in Oliver Stone’s ‘JFK,’ which landed him a Golden Globe nomination. He starred in the blockbuster ‘The Bodyguard’ alongside Whitney Houston.
Costner ventured into different roles in ‘A Perfect World’ and ‘Wyatt Earp,’ followed by the notoriously unsuccessful ‘Waterworld.’ He bounced back with the modestly successful ‘Tin Cup,’ and ‘The Postman’ in 1997. His filmography continued with works like ‘For the Love of the Game’ and ‘3000 Miles to Graceland,’ culminating in the well-received ‘Thirteen Days’ about the Cuban missile crisis.
In 2005, he starred in ‘The Upside of Anger,’ which garnered him the San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. He shared the screen with Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo, Richard Jenkins, and Mena Suvari in ‘Rumor Has It.’ Over the years, he also appeared in films such as ‘The Guardian,’ ‘Mr. Brooks,’ ‘Swing Vote,’ ‘The New Daughter,’ and ‘The Company Men’ in 2010.
His more recent roles include appearances in ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’ (2013), ‘3 Days To Kill’ (2014), and ‘Draft Day’ (2014).
“What Whitney (Houston) would say to young girls is to protect their bodies and safeguard the precious miracle of their own life.”
– Kevin Costner, during the eulogy at Houston’s funeral
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NFNL is set to host its 12th Annual WINGS Luncheon featuring guest speaker Kevin Costner.
