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Ohio's Governor Awards Medal
of Courage to Theresa Flores, Director of Education and
Training for Gracehaven Dublin House.
2.8.12 Ohio.
Theresa Flores, director of education and training for Gracehaven Dublin House
and author, has been awarded Ohio Governor
John Kasich's Medal of Courage. Flores, a sexual slavery victim,
anti-human trafficking advocate and past Midwestern
Region Soroptimist's Ruby Award winner, was forced
into the sex trade as a teenager.
After two years at the whim of traffickers,
Flores survived to tell her story and expose human trafficking
for its vile explotation of women and girls. Millions
have become aware of the magnitude of trafficking
through Flores' books, outreach, advocacy for victims, and speaking
engagements. Governor
Kasich's honor citation notes, as a victim of human trafficking, a teenage Theresa Flores was
exploited, blackmailed,
and abused. Today she is Director of Education & Training for Gracehaven
House in Dublin, a faith-based care
and rehabilitation home for girls who have been victimized by human
trafficking. A licensed social worker, she
is courageously using her experience to help make a positive
difference in countless lives.
In recognizing Flores' passionate action initiatives Governor Kasich says, "Her courage has
helped
her to turn her experience around and make a difference in countless lives,"
The S. O. A. P.initiative, recruits thousands
to distribute hand soap in hotels in metropolitan venues
where traffickers migrate to exploit young women and girls as
temporary crowds swell for high-attendance
events such as the Detroit Auto Show and the more recent Super Bowl in Indianapolis.
Midwestern
Region Soroptimist members have volunteered to help during these two events and several others
as 2012
unfolds. Traffickers who have previously found easy anonymity and access with the influx and generally
fast egress
of such in-town visitors have been put on notice. With the advocacy to distribute hand soap, Flores has
involved thousands
in putting out the anti-trafficking message and national victims' hotline
telephone number.
Most recently 10TV's Glenn McEntyre is among a multitude of local, regional, national,
and
international media interviewers to recognize the importance of Flores' story and activism.
Theresa Flores
was forced into sexual slavery at a young age and survived to tell her story,
and Kasich said the state needed more
resources like her to fight human trafficking , reports McEntyre.
.
Through her books, speaking engagements, and attempts to interest individuals in providing
financial and collateral support for Gracehaven, she has utilized traditional and modern
social networking tools. Those
previously familiar with Flores know of her projects posted
to Kickstarter. Several interested parties continue to assist
in Theresa's goal create mass
public awareness by having a major motion picture made centered upon her personal story.
Individuals may watch for related projects to advance public awareness and help to
adolescent victims through such
platforms as Kickstarter, as well as professional civic and
volunteer service organizations as Soroptimist International
clubs. Midwestern Region
Soroptimist club members volunteer in support of Gracehaven in many
and varied ways, as
groups and single individuals contributing time, talent, craft,
and financial donations.
Going forward, Flores, now 46, continues to
encourage the passage of legislation called the Safe Harbor for Exploited
Children Law, according to McEntyre's reported.
The Safe Harbor bill would prevent minors
from being arrested and jailed for soliciting. Instead the objective
would be to place them
into appropriate treatment environments conducive to their re-establishing them into local
communities.
More than in-name recognition, the Governor’s Courage Medal was designed by Columbus graphic
artist David Browning,
who also designed the Ohio Bicentennial logo. Each medal is three inches in
diameter and made of 10 troy
ounces of .999 silver, with selective 24k gold plate highlights and hangs
on a red ribbon. Browning’s design was
converted into a three dimensional die by the manufacturer,
Northwest Territorial Mint.
1.15.2012 Miss Wisconsin Named Miss America 2012
1.3.2012. Susan Boyle's CD The Gift ranked No. 5 in the Top Ten
of 2011.
Congratulations to her and cheers for her enthusiastic followers.
12.12.11 It was announced today that First Lady Michelle Obama's October organized
initiative to break the
jumping jacks record was a success. Four hundred children joined the First Lady on the lawn
of the White
House as part of a coordination of jumping jack events nationwide. The event is part of her signature program
Let's Move. See photos and details.
Getting the Word
to Santa
Your Letter Could Mean a Mill$on
Mrs. S. Claus, no doubt the official
letter opener, the fundraisers at Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Macy's Retail
Stores are joining together this holiday
season to potential raise money to make wishes come true for children with
potentially life-threatening conditions according
to Ms. Randy Kelly, Make-a-Wish Foundation Indiana.
For every Letter to Santa deposited into a special Santa Mail
Box at Macy's stores nationwide, Macy's
will donate $1.00 to Make-a-Wish. The potential of this partnered-event
is up to $1,000,000. Each store has a
"letter writing station" in store where children and adults can compose
their letters to the jolly one.
Ms. Kelly also devulged that Santa will be making appearances at the Macy's store
throughout
the pre-December 25 season. He will appear at the Ft. Wayne, Indiana store at 6 p.m., December 8th,
read
a story for the children and shoppers, as well as enjoy games, photos, and activities for all
attending.
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