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2011 Somaly Mam
Foundation Gala
Honored
The Body Shop
Americas; Russell Simmons, Rush Communications; Melanne
Verveer, Ambassador-At-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S.
Department of State.
Evening Raised
$549,450 for foundation
Thursday, October
20, 2011
Espace, NYC.
635 West 42
Street
6pm to 10pm
October 20, 2011---
Somaly Mam Foundation hosted their annual gala at Espace
(635 West 42 Street) in New York City for 275 guests.
Cocktails started at 6pm followed by dinner at 7pm. The
floral arrangements were donated and designed by Gira Floral
and the event’s gift bags were donated by The Body Shop.
The program included
remarks by: Somaly Mam, H.E. Hun Kimleng daughters (wife of
the Chief of Police in Cambodia) and two survivors Hok
Sokleang and Chea Lingya.
Honorees received
individual awards. Phil Kowalczyk, President of The Body
Shop Americas, received the Voices of Change Corporate
Award. Russell Simmons received the Voices of Change Award.
Melanne Verveer received the Voices of Change Ambassador
Award.
Co-Chairs included: Lauren Bush, Deepak Chopra, Kerry Girvin,
Bianca Mead, Andy and Laura Heery Prozes, Susan Sarandon and
Shelley Simmons.
Notable guests that attended included: Padma Lakshmi, Ron
Livingston, Somaly Mam, Annalynne McCord, Petra Nemcova,
Susan Sarandon, Russell Simmons, Her Excellency Hun Kimleng,
Ambassador Luis C de Baca (Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor
and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department),
and Melanne Verveer.
The program began with remarks from the foundation’s Bill
Livermore who was the Master Ceremonies. Mr. Livermore
introduced H.E. Hun Kimlen daughters and welcomed them both
the stage. Somaly Mam and Bill Livermore present the
Ambassador Melanne Verveer with her Voices of Change award.
After the Ambassador accepted her award, Mr. Livermore
introduced Mr. Robert Rigby-Hall, who is the Chairman of The
Board of the Somaly Mam Foundation. Following Mr.
Rigby-Halls commentary about the foundation, Somaly Mam
introduces two survivors Hok Sokleang and Chea Lingya. Both
survivors shared their stories with audience and spoke about
how the Somaly Mam Foundation has brought hope into their
lives – there was not a dry in the room. Bill Livermore with
the help of Annalynne conducted a very successful
Humanitarian Auction, raising over $91,000.
The Humanitarian Auction (Fund-A-Need), allowed the Somaly
Mam Foundation to provide the following for shelters in
Southeast Asia (below are the level of support):
·
$10,000 WILL
SUPPORT FEED A SHELTER:
provide two month’s worth of fresh water, rice, and
nutritious meals for 70 girls staying at a shelter in
Southeast Asia. Or
SHELTER TRAINING AND SUPPORT:
pays for infrastructure and
supports costs involved with training survivors for one
shelter for four months. This donation covers
workshop staff capacity building, sewing equipment and
materials, hairdressing equipment and materials, agriculture
business supplies, business management courses, computer and
life skill training, maintenance and repair of training
equipment, field visits for survivors to associated
shelters, and more.
·
$5,000
WILL SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIP FOR A YOUNG SURVIVOR: provides an
academic scholarship to four survivors in Southeast Asia for
an entire year. The scholarship provides entrance fees,
books, materials and a living stipend. Through an education
a survivor is empowered to build a new life and career,
enabling her to support herself and play an active role in
the local economy.
·
$1,000
WILL SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY: pays for six months worth of
technology needs for three shelters. The funds will be used
for computers at the centers in Cambodia and the dedicated
staff to operate them as well as provide Internet service.
(Internet access provides a host of necessary administrative
and educational tools for both the survivors and the shelter
staff.)
·
$100
WILL SUPPORT START A BUSINESS, REBUILD A LIFE: provides a
survivor with essentials she needs to start her own
business, including supplies and materials.
Directly after the auction, guests were served dinner. At
8:30pm Mr. Livermore introduced pianist Chloe Flower.
Chloe Flower performed her new single Revolution. She
described the single as a song that is about fighting back
against human trafficking. Chloe’s inspiration for the song
is Somaly Mam and victims of human trafficking. The piano
Chloe performed was donated by Yamaha, for more information
about Yamaha go to their website:
usa.yamaha.com/products/musicalinstruments/keyboards
After the performance actress and activist Annalynne McCord
introduced Phil Kowalczyk, President of The Body Shop
Americas. Somaly Mam presented Mr. Kowalczyk, with his
award. Both Annalynne and Somaly Mam remarked on how
impressed they were that The Body Shop employees so well
versed on the topic of anti-sex trafficking and The Body
Shop Campaign Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People.
After Phil accepted
the award on behalf of The Body Shop. Phil opened his speech
by saying; ““It’s an honor for The Body Shop to be in
partnership with the Somaly Mam Foundation on this long but
very hopeful road to change. Every time Somaly is in the US
or Canada she takes the time to visit our teams in stores,
and every visit with our teams, and with our customers is an
unforgettable and inspiring one. We’ve been so proud to
partner with Somaly and the Somaly Mam Foundation and proud
of the achievements we’ve helped create with them.”
Long time friend Petra Nemcova presented the final award of
the evening to Mr. Russell Simmons. Petra Nemcova is on
SMF’s Global Advisory Board. Mr. Simmons accepted his
Voices of Change award. Russell serves as UN Goodwill
Ambassador for the Permanent Memorial To Honor The Victims
of Slavery and The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Bill Livermore and Somaly Mam both took to the stage and
said their final thanks and wished their guests a lovely
evening.
About The 2011 Gala’s Honorees:
Phil Kowalczyk, The Body Shop Americas
In August 2009 The Body Shop kicked off the campaign Sex
Trafficking of Children & Young People that has reached more
than 50 countries. The campaign is exceptional in scale for
The Body Shop, but not in nature.
The Body Shop was created 35 years ago with a very specific
vision by its exceptional founder, Dame Anita Roddick, who
believed business could and should be a force for positive
social change.
In September 2011, The Body Shop
handed over seven million customer signatures to the United
Nations Human Rights Council calling for greater action at a
coordinated international level to tackle child sex
trafficking. In response to The Body Shop campaign and
petition, 15 countries have to date committed to legislation
action. The Body Shop thanks the governments of Malta,
Denmark, Portugal, South Africa, Malaysia, Norway,
Switzerland, France, Romania, Taiwan, Ireland, Indonesia,
Pakistan, New Zealand and The Philippines for committing to
take action that will change countless lives for the better.
The Body Shop US & Canada are proud partners of Somaly Mam
and the Somaly Mam Foundation for their efforts in the
rehabilitation of young girls in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos
and across the world, and for their dedication in bringing
an end of child sex trafficking.
Russell
Simmons, Rush Communications, Inc.
Forbes Magazine recently named
Russell Simmons one of “Hollywood’s Most Influential
Celebrities.” USA Today named Russell Simmons one of the
“Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years,”
calling him a “hip-hop pioneer” for his groundbreaking
vision that has influenced music, fashion, finance, the
jewelry industry, television and film, as well as the face
of modern philanthropy. From creating his seminal Def Jam
Recordings in 1984, to the 2007 publishing of his New York
Times best seller “Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in
You to Achieve Happiness and Success,” Russell is recognized
globally for his influence and entrepreneurial approach to
both business and philanthropy.
Giving back is of primary
importance to him in all aspects of life and as Chairman and
CEO of Rush Communications; he has consistently leveraged
his influence in the recording industry, fashion,
television, financial services, and jewelry sectors to give
back. A devoted yogi, Russell also leads the non-profit
division of his empire, Rush Community Affairs, and its
ongoing commitment to empowering at-risk youth through
education, the arts, and social engagement. Russell also
serves as UN Goodwill Ambassador For The Permanent Memorial
To Honor The Victims Of Slavery and The Trans-Atlantic Slave
Trade.
Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-At-Large for
Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State.
President Barack Obama appointed
Melanne Verveer as Ambassador-at- Large for Global Women’s
Issues. The President’s decision to create a position of
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues is
unprecedented, and reflects the elevated importance of these
issues to the President and his entire Administration. In
her capacity as director of the Department of State’s new
office on Global Women’s Issues, Ambassador Verveer
coordinates foreign policy issues and activities relating to
the political, economic and social advancement of women
around the world. She mobilizes concrete support for women’s
rights and political and economic empowerment through
initiatives and programs designed to increase women’s and
girls’ access to education and health care, to combat
violence against women and girls in all its forms, and to
ensure that women’s rights are fully integrated with human
rights in the development of U.S. foreign policy.
Ambassador Verveer most recently
served as Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global
Partnership, an international nonprofit she co-founded.
Vital Voices invests in emerging women leaders and works to
expand women’s roles in generating economic opportunity,
promoting political participation, and safeguarding human
rights. Prior to her work with Vital Voices, Ambassador
Verveer served as Assistant to the President and Chief of
Staff to the First Lady in the Clinton Administration and
was chief assistant to then-First Lady Hillary Clinton in
all her wide-ranging international activities to advance
women’s rights and further social development, democracy and
peace- building initiatives. She also led the effort to
establish the President’s Interagency Council on Women.
Prior to her time in the White House, Ambassador Verveer
served in a number of leadership roles in public policy
organizations and as legislative staff.
Ambassador Verveer has a B.A. and M.A. from
Georgetown University. She is a member of the Council on
Foreign Relations, Women’s Foreign Policy Group, and
numerous other organizations.
About the Performer:
Chloe Flower is a
classically trained pianist currently working on her debut
album, which fuses her own traditional arrangements with
contemporary beats. Produced by the legendary Kenny
“Babyface” Edmonds, Tim and Bob. This groundbreaking album
marks an unprecedented collaboration between Chloe and her
inspiration, Somaly Mam. The album is a journey of emotions
separated by three acts, each opening with the moving words
of Deepak Chopra.
Using the power of
music, Chloe hopes to bring a much-needed awareness to the
human trafficking epidemic. Strong and moving themes were
carefully chosen to trigger specific emotions in the
listener. Deepak Chopra’s opening words in each act guide
the audience through a journey from innocence to suffering,
then culminating with hope and healing. Chloe will be
donating a portion of her album sales to The Somaly Mam
Foundation in an effort to help end human trafficking.
Chloe has performed throughout the United States and abroad,
and attended the Aspen Summer Music Festival with her late
piano teacher, Herbert Stessin of The Juilliard School. She
also has studied with Aaron Shorr at the Royal Academy of
Music in London. In addition to piano, Chloe played the
cello for ten years. She speaks four languages including
Hindi, French, and Korean. She was recently accepted into
the private studio of New York Philharmonic harpsichordist
Lionel Party who is also a faculty member at the prestigious
Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School.
“Chloe Flower is a very unique and extremely talented
artist. She is poised to become a global superstar. Working
with Chloe has inspired and taken me into a new musical
world that is very exciting for me.” – Kenny “Babyface”
Edmonds.
For more information about Chloe and her touring schedule go
to:
http://www.chloeflowermusic.com/
About The Somaly Mam Foundation
The Somaly Mam Foundation is
a nonprofit charity
committed to ending modern
day slavery in North America
and around the world.
Human trafficking, a
multi-billion dollar
industry, is the fastest
growing criminal enterprise
in the world. With over two
million women and children
sold into sexual slavery
each year, it is a global
crisis that must be stopped.
More resources are
critically needed to support
the rescue and
rehabilitation of these
young victims.
Co-founded by sexual slavery
survivor,
Somaly Mam, the
Foundation works to
eradicate human trafficking,
liberate its victims, and
empower survivors so they
can create and sustain lives
of dignity. The Foundation
supports survivor rescue,
shelter, and rehabilitation
programs globally with a
special focus on Southeast
Asia, where the trafficking
of women and girls, some as
young as five, is a
widespread practice. The
Somaly Mam Foundation also
runs awareness and advocacy
campaigns in North America
and around the world that
shed light on the crime of
human trafficking and focus
on getting the public and
governments involved in the
fight to abolish modern day
slavery.
The Foundation's Vision: A world where
women and children are safe
from slavery.
The Foundation's Mission: To give victims
and survivors a voice in
their lives, liberate
victims, end slavery, and
empower survivors as they
create and sustain lives of
dignity.
The Foundation is a
registered 501(c)3 charity
in the USA.
EIN: 22-0392207.
For more information about the Somaly Mam Foundation please
visit: www.somaly.org
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