BUILD AWARENESS IN MAY BY WALKING
Two Opportunities to Show Support
Participate in the family-friendly "Use Your Feet for Freedom" 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, May 6, with proceeds benefiting Freedom House. Palo Alto Vineyard Church is hosting its annual event at Mitchell Park, which is located at 600 East Meadow Drive in Palo Alto. The popular park is the perfect setting for a festive morning filled with a variety of activities. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. For more information, please contact Niki Liming at [email protected].
On Saturday, May 13, Freedom House and The National Council of Jewish Women San Francisco are joining together as one team to raise money to fight human trafficking by participating in the Bay Area Human Race, which is being sponsored by the Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership. The collaborative fundraiser is taking place at the Marin Center Fairgrounds & Lagoon, located at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. For information, please contact [email protected].
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YOUR GALA TABLE AWAITS
Tickets still are available to attend the Freedom House 8th Annual Gala on Saturday evening, April 29, at 6:00 p.m., being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City. Polaris, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery, will receive the Freedom House 2017 Stewardship Award, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco will be given the 2017 Guardian Award for its work with human-trafficking survivors.
"Resilient Butterflies" is this year's theme, highlighting the many local survivors who have benefited from the Monarch's shelter and aftercare program. Most of our adult survivors have been sexually abused or commercially exploited during their adolescent years -- even as young as age 9. Jaida Im, founder and executive director, will discuss their transforming journeys, as Gala guests meet one special survivor at the banquet.
Gala tickets are $150 per person and $1,500 for a table of ten. To encourage our many young abolitionists in high school and college, $75 student discount tickets also are offered.
If you plan to make arrangements by mail, please quickly send your check made payable to Freedom House at PO Box 2065, Burlingame, CA 94011. You and your guests must select a meal preference prior to April 25. Known for its excellent food, the Crowne Plaza offers these choices:
Beef
: New York Steak with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Mushrooms, with Red Wine Demi-Glaze;
Chicken
: Chicken Florentine Caramelized Onions, Spinach, Boursin Cheese, and Mixed Wild Rice Pilaf with Marsala Wine Sauce;
Vegetarian
: Toy Box Mushroom Risotto with Grilled Asparagus and Portobello Mushrooms
If you have any Gala questions, kindly contact [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you later this month. Thank you!
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GALA AUCTIONS OFFER TRAVEL, EXCURSIONS, DINING, AND MORE!
Picture yourself on a sandy beach in Maui as the Live Auction winner of a one-week stay at a private, two-bedroom condominium, courtesy of donor Vita Benefits Group and The Karl Hansen Family. If you prefer to vacation in Lake Tahoe or Mendocino, or want to take the family to Disneyland, plan to bid on these exciting auction items. Of course, Southwest Airlines can take you anywhere in the United States where they fly, plus Puerto Rico, allowing you to create your own dream vacation!
Do you like Christian music? Concord Pavilion donated tickets to Spirit West Coast on June 11. Is NASCAR your sport of choice? If so, Sonoma Raceway offers tickets to a race on June 24. If your idea of a perfect day involves wine, then come bid on tasting opportunities at Schramsberg, Gloria Ferrer, Castello de Amorosa, Peju Province Winery and Concannon Vineyard. (There also is a special raffle for a wine basket valued at $500.) Beer lovers don't despair, as we have special items for you, too!
There is something for every interest at the Gala's Silent and Live Auctions: amusement parks, art, ballet, bowling, classical music, food, golf, indoor rock climbing, museums, pets, photography, sports memorabilia, tickets, whitewater rafting, zip lining, and much more. Come join the fun: www.FreedomHouseSF.org/Events
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GALA KEYNOTE SPEAKER - JUSTIN DILLON
A professional musician turned filmmaker and social entrepreneur, Justin Dillon is founder and CEO of Made in a Free World, an award-winning platform that brings together consumers, organizations, and companies to disrupt the $150 billion business of human trafficking. Justin's leadership as a "practitioner of change" has awakened a global movement of over 30 million, improved laws, and freed thousands of slaves. He has advised the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, the White House, the Vatican, Fortune 500s, and others on issues of innovation and social justice. He is the director of influential films - with voices like Cornel West, Amber Valletta and Nicholas Kristof - including Call+Response and Common Dreams for CNN. He is the author of A Selfish Plan to Change the World and has been featured by the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, Fast Company, Vogue, Huffington Post, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NPR, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, and more. His work has received many accolades, including a Cannes Lion and an SXSW Innovation Award.
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AUTHOR SKIP VACCARELLO AT GALA
Learn more about the origin of Freedom House and the inspirational story of its founder and executive director Jaida Im by purchasing a copy of Finding God in Silicon Valley. Author Skip Vaccarello profiles several local business leaders in his popular book and features a chapter about Jaida's healing and commitment to serve human-trafficking survivors. For your convenience, Skip, who also is known for organizing the Silicon Valley Prayer Breakfast each year, will be selling his book during the Gala's Social Hour at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Please stop by his table, located within the Silent Auction area, to meet Skip and purchase an autographed copy.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Sayuli Bhide
Born in India, Sayuli Bhide was introduced to the horrors of human trafficking during her visits there. She graduated from USC last year, where she became more aware of trafficking in the United States through a women's health class and her own research. Sayuli started as a Shelter Volunteer in October and continues to be inspired by both the residents and staff at The Monarch and their commitment to Freedom House's mission. She especially enjoys tutoring the residents and is excited to volunteer at the upcoming Gala as well. Sayuli is starting medical school this year, and as a future physician, she plans to contribute to women's health and continue to help those who are survivors of violence.
Freedom House in the Community:
April 27 - Stand for Freedom, Santa Clara University
April 29 - Freedom House Gala, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Foster City
May 6 - Use Your Feet for Freedom," Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
May 15 - Bay Area Human Race, San Rafael
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