NFNL Luncheon Honors Three Organizations with “ProtectHer” Awards, Featuring Kevin Costner
Each year, New Friends New Life (NFNL) honors three organizations that align with its goal of rehabilitating and empowering girls and women affected by trafficking and sexual exploitation. The recipients of the 2015 “ProtectHer” awards will be celebrated at the WINGS luncheon on April 10th, featuring actor Kevin Costner.
The Letot Girls’ Residential Treatment Center plays a crucial role in aiding the community’s most vulnerable girls. Over 9,700 youths, aged 10 to 17, interact with law enforcement in Dallas County annually, many fleeing from situations of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. NFNL collaborates with the Letot Girls’ Center to provide licensed professional counselors who offer therapeutic support for sexual abuse recovery to at-risk and trafficked adolescents. Studies indicate that integrating treatment services with essential community resources enhances benefits for both the youth and their families and significantly improves long-term success rates.
“Girls who have faced exploitation endure an overwhelming degree of chaos and trauma in their lives,” stated Caren Prothro, President Emeritus of the Letot Center Capital Foundation, who will accept the award. “Although we cannot restore their lost childhoods, we can offer a secure and nurturing environment for them to rebuild their lives.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Human Trafficking Squad collaborates with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to create the Interdiction for the Protection of Children Program. This initiative has trained over 7,000 patrol officers in recognizing, intervening, and rescuing child victims of sex trafficking, as well as managing these sensitive cases effectively. For many children, a knowledgeable and skilled officer represents their best chance for rescue.
Sabre is a prominent technology organization within the global travel and tourism sector. In 2012, as part of their commitment to corporate social responsibility, Sabre introduced “Passport to Freedom,” a program aimed at combating human trafficking and aiding victims and survivors. This extensive initiative strives to unite the travel and tourism industries in the fight against child sex trafficking and modern slavery.
As part of this program, Sabre established the first scholarship initiative focused on enabling trafficking survivors to access post-secondary education and vocational training, thereby creating pathways to stable and secure employment opportunities.
Tickets for the 12th Annual WINGS Luncheon are available for $175, with various sponsorship options. For further details, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org or contact (214) 965-0935.
“My life has been about denying myself, unaware of my worth… this has kept others at bay. Truly recognizing my own value, in every aspect, has been a liberating journey. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn’t, allowing me to finally see who I am.”
– a survivor expressing gratitude for the support received from New Friends New Life
Kevin Costner: A Brief Biography
Kevin Costner grew up in Southern California, the son of a ditch-digger, which likely shaped his appreciation for the American landscape.
He began his journey at California State University in 1973, later marrying and experiencing a period of uncertainty until a fateful encounter with actor Richard Burton on a flight led him to pursue acting.
Costner relocated to Los Angeles with his wife, working various jobs like truck driving and tour guiding while striving for acting roles. He had his first credited appearance in ‘Malibu Hot Summer’ in 1974 and gradually moved on to minor roles, including one in Lawrence Kasdan’s ‘The Big Chill’. After a scene was cut from that film, Kasdan offered him a role in the Western ‘Silverado’, which propelled Costner to stardom.
Throughout his career, Costner portrayed principled heroes in films like ‘The Untouchables’, ‘No Way Out’, ‘Bull Durham’, and ‘Field of Dreams’, establishing a niche as a reliable leading man.
His directorial debut, ‘Dances With Wolves’, in 1991 received widespread acclaim, winning him two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, along with a Golden Globe.
Following ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’, his role in Oliver Stone’s ‘JFK’ earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. He starred in the hit ‘The Bodyguard’ alongside Whitney Houston, which further increased his popularity.
Costner later challenged himself in roles like ‘A Perfect World’ and ‘Wyatt Earp’, navigating through successes and failures with films like ‘Waterworld’, which underperformed, and ‘Tin Cup’, which found modest success, before taking part in ‘The Postman’ in 1997. He then returned to the spotlight with films like ‘For the Love of the Game’ and ‘3000 Miles to Graceland’, before revisiting historical themes with the acclaimed ‘Thirteen Days’ focused on the Cuban missile crisis.
Costner saw renewed success with ‘The Upside of Anger’ in 2005, winning accolades including the San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared alongside Jennifer Aniston and Mark Ruffalo in the romantic comedy ‘Rumor Has It’ in the same year, followed by performances in ‘The Guardian’, ‘Mr. Brooks’, ‘Swing Vote’, ‘The New Daughter’, and ‘The Company Men’ in 2010.
His recent film credits include ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’ (2013), ‘3 Days to Kill’ (2014), and ‘Draft Day’ (2014).
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– Kevin Costner, reflecting during Whitney Houston’s memorial service
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NFNL will feature Kevin Costner as the guest speaker at their 12th Annual WINGS Luncheon.
