The Resolute Diplomat

Ambassador Jeanne Phillips: A Mother’s Quest to Combat Human Trafficking

by Karyn Brodsky

Did you know that in Dallas, the average age for a child entering the human trafficking industry is just 13 years old? This alarming statistic profoundly affected Ambassador Jeanne Phillips. She was introduced to the severity of human trafficking by Katie Pedigo, the current CEO of New Friends New Life (NFNL), and her long-time friend Nancy Ann Hunt, a dedicated supporter of the organization.

NFNL is committed to the restoration and empowerment of women and children who have been trafficked or sexually exploited (newfriendsnewlife.org). “My daughter Maggie was 14 at the time,” Phillips recalls. “When I learned that girls younger than her were being sold in Texas, I felt completely nauseated.” She also discovered that human trafficking in Dallas is a $99 million industry, with Texas ranking second in the nation for the number of cases.

After joining NFNL’s advisory board, Phillips began working to raise awareness of this pressing issue and those dedicated individuals striving to make a difference. The prevalence of human trafficking in Dallas deeply troubled her, motivating her to assist these women facing unimaginable hardships. However, her life would soon take an unexpected turn with a personal crisis.

Her husband David was diagnosed with a rare cancer that ultimately claimed his life after a two-year struggle, leaving Phillips to navigate single motherhood with a teenage daughter. “People often ask me how I coped with that grief, and I share a message I hope resonates with the women at New Friends New Life: ‘Life is full of challenges, but with faith, good friends, humor, and a determination to take responsibility, we can improve our lives despite any hardships we encounter,’” she shared. For Phillips and her daughter, Maggie, adapting to their new reality while honoring David’s memory became a guiding principle, fostering a belief in a greater plan for their lives.

As Maggie embarked on her journey at Vanderbilt University in the fall of 2011, Phillips aimed to further immerse herself in community engagements and her professional pursuits. In 2015, she took on the role of chair for NFNL’s annual Wings Luncheon. With actor Kevin Costner as a special speaker, the event garnered over $1 million, surpassing the fundraising target.

Last month, Phillips chaired the event for the second consecutive year, this time featuring Amal Clooney, a renowned barrister, human rights advocate, philanthropist, and author. The 2016 Wings Luncheon again raised $1 million for the organization.

These fundraising initiatives are crucial in educating the public about human trafficking, which impacts both boys and girls. “This isn’t just a gender issue; it’s a societal issue that affects every community, not solely those in distress,” Phillips emphasizes. Recently, both women and men associated with NFNL successfully lobbied the Texas Legislature to modernize state laws responding to this escalating concern. House Bill 2290, declaring January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, was signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 17, 2015, and House Bill 2286, aimed at allowing victims to overturn prostitution convictions if they were trafficking victims, was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 19, 2015. Over 20 additional laws have also been enacted to protect the rights of trafficking victims in Texas.

While passionately involved with NFNL, Ambassador Phillips has remained mindful of her primary role: being a dedicated mother to Maggie. She advises other parents to “make time to be fully present with their children and cherish every moment because those years slip away faster than we think!”

“Maggie and I cherish our time together and feel truly blessed,” Phillips notes. “We are grateful for David’s life and seek to find meaning in our loss, which encourages us to be more compassionate and appreciative of what truly matters.” She recalls a friend telling Maggie: “It’s not the hand you’re dealt in life; it’s how you play it that counts.”

Now, Maggie is actively contributing to NFNL, seeking to engage more volunteers from her peer group aged 21-30. Last fall, she chaired the Home Tour and is working to inspire her friends to support NFNL’s mission, paving the way for a newer generation of leaders in the organization.

In recognition of her unwavering commitment to advocating for those trapped in human trafficking and her continuous efforts to raise funds for their support, all while navigating single parenthood, Themerrythought Magazine proudly honors Ambassador Jeanne Phillips with this month’s VIP award.

Alongside her role as U.S. Ambassador under President Bush and numerous other political appointments and board memberships, Jeanne Phillips is a distinguished business leader in Dallas, serving as senior vice president of Corporate Affairs and International Relations at Hunt Consolidated, Inc., where she also presides over Hunt Global Partnerships, which manages social investments globally on behalf of the company.