Unlikely Heroes

Last updated
Unlikely Heroes
FormationNovember 11, 2011;12 years ago (2011-11-11)
FounderErica Greve
Legal status501(3)(c) Nonprofit Organization
ServicesRescue of children, operation of recovery houses, public education
President
Erica Greve
Website unlikelyheroes.com

Unlikely Heroes is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that rescues, restores, and rehabilitates child victims of sex slavery around the world. Since its founding in 2011 by Erica Greve, Unlikely Heroes has rescued hundreds of children who are then placed in one of their seven residential facilities, each offering rescued children housing, safety, food, medical care, education, life skills training, and therapy.

Contents

History and Organization

While attending graduate school in the MSW program at UC-Berkeley, Greve interned as an emergency room social worker for a children's hospital near San Francisco. "It was my job to capture the story of the kids who came through the door," she explained. One story seemed to repeat itself: young girls being forced into sexual slavery and having no way to get help. [1] "I had to go back to [her] mom and tell her and tell her I couldn't help her, there's nowhere for her to go." [2] At that point Greve decided she had to do something. She decided to find a way to create a safe haven for these kinds of children. [1]

Name

Unlikely Heroes is named after all its volunteers, supporters, and employees. Greve considers them heroes because they're willing to take up the fight. "The name Unlikely Heroes also refers to children who have been and are about to be rescued. Almost all our rescued child victims want to share their stories to help stop the trafficking cycle. To us, these rescued kids are the heroes most of all." [3] Founder and President Erica Greve explains the origin and vision further: "The name Unlikely Heroes is about the children we rescue – once they are fully restored – that their voices will become the voices that end human trafficking. But it is also about each and every one of us using our time, our gifts and our resources to do something to stop human trafficking worldwide." [4]

Services

Unlikely Heroes print public service announcement. UH PSA AD.png
Unlikely Heroes print public service announcement.

Unlikely Heroes' mission is to rescue, restore and rehabilitate child victims of sex slavery. This is accomplished by: 1) Planning and executing the rescues of children working as sex slaves; 2) Operating "restoration homes" —therapeutic residential facilities where children can live, learn, and heal together after being rescued from sex slavery, and 3) coordinating prevention programs through community education. [3]

Rescue

Unlikely Heroes positions rescue teams in areas where children are at high risk for sex slavery. Rescues have been conducted in the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, & the United States. As of March 2019, over 400 children have been rescued by Unlikely Heroes. [3]

Restore

Unlikely heroes operates group homes in the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, and United States. These homes provide restorative care, trauma therapy, and provide educational opportunities to help get these girls on the road to recovery, and point them toward a new life filled with promise and hope. [2] In addition to room, board, and education, residents of restoration homes have access to medical care, life skills and job training. [4] The goal of these homes is to pioneer moves forward in education so that girls never have to become victims again. Within their focus to rescue, restore, and educate, their experience is causing them to be acknowledged as global experts in restorative care for child victims of sex slavery. [4]

Educate

Unlikely Heroes also coordinates human trafficking awareness and prevention campaigns. As of 2018, they had educated over 80,000 people since the nonprofit was founded. [4]

Business model

Unlikely Heroes funds its operations through private donations and proceeds from fundraisers held throughout the year. According to Greve, the average cost to care for a rescued child is $5,000 per year. Each restoration home can house approximately twelve children and costs roughly $50,000 a year to run.[ citation needed ]

Unlikely Heroes was built to end human trafficking using a sustainable business model. Their growth strategy balances financial and social objectives & the message has resonated heavily with young Hollywood – a group that is ready & eager to use their social reach for good despite what you may have read in the news recently. I attended the 2013 ‘Recognizing Heroes Awards Dinner & Gala’ held at The W in Hollywood which brought together hundreds of influential supporters, musical performances, & media attention from around the globe. The young & stylish crowd enjoyed the social aspect of the event, but also demonstrated their commitment to the Unlikely Heroes cause by donating over $150,000 that night. Emerging philanthropists, especially millennials, are growing accustomed to having it all in one – sustainable & cause-centric organizations, entertaining social events, & creating real immediate impact.

— Evan Kirkpatrick, Forbes [4]

Greve elucidated the vision: "Whether we are rescuing a girl out of a brothel, or recognizing the accomplishments of a celebrity advocate at one of our red carpet events, we do our best to protect the vulnerable and highlight the valuable." Celebrities who have attended Unlikely Hero events include Selena Gomez, Ian Somerhalder, Liana Liberato, Azie Tesfai, Francia Raisa. Jesse McCartney, [5] Babyface, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz & Macy Gray. [4]

Unlikely Heroes holds two annual fundraisers: the Recognizing Heroes Awards Dinner and Gala [6] and the Love is Heroic Spring Benefit. The 4th annual Recognizing Heroes Awards Dinner and Gala was hosted by Nikki Reed in Dallas on November 12, 2016. The event raised over $500,000 in a single evening. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Child prostitution</span> Prostitution involving a child

Child prostitution is prostitution involving a child, and it is a form of commercial sexual exploitation of children. The term normally refers to prostitution of a minor, or person under the legal age of consent. In most jurisdictions, child prostitution is illegal as part of general prohibition on prostitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex trafficking</span> Trade of sexual slaves

Sex trafficking is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It has been called a form of modern slavery because of the way victims are forced into sexual acts non-consensually, in a form of sexual slavery. Perpetrators of the crime are called sex traffickers or pimps—people who manipulate victims to engage in various forms of commercial sex with paying customers. Sex traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion as they recruit, transport, and provide their victims as prostitutes. Sometimes victims are brought into a situation of dependency on their trafficker(s), financially or emotionally. Every aspect of sex trafficking is considered a crime, from acquisition to transportation and exploitation of victims. This includes any sexual exploitation of adults or minors, including child sex tourism (CST) and domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Justice Mission</span> Non-profit organisation in the US

International Justice Mission is an international, non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization focused on human rights, law and law enforcement. Founded in 1997 by lawyer Gary Haugen of the United States, it is based in Washington, D.C. All IJM employees are required to be practicing Christians; 94% are nationals of the countries they work in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prajwala</span> Organization against prostitution and sex trafficking.

Prajwala is a non-governmental organization based in Hyderabad, India, devoted exclusively to eradicating prostitution and sex trafficking. Founded in 1996 by Ms. Sunitha Krishnan and Brother Jose Vetticatil, the organization actively works in the areas of prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration, and advocacy to combat trafficking in every dimension and restore dignity to victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Dragon Children's Foundation</span>

Blue Dragon Children's Foundation is a non-governmental organization based in Hanoi, Vietnam. The organization rescues children from crises including sex trafficking, forced labor, and slavery and then provides access to shelter, education and employment. More recently, Blue Dragon has been actively working to end human trafficking through a range of programs operating in Vietnam's most vulnerable communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking</span> Trade of humans for exploitation

Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation. Human trafficking can occur within a country or trans-nationally. It is distinct from people smuggling, which is characterized by the consent of the person being smuggled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in the United States</span> Human trafficking as it relates to the United States

In the United States, human trafficking tends to occur around international travel hubs with large immigrant populations, notably in California, Texas, and Georgia. Those trafficked include young children, teenagers, men, and women; victims can be domestic citizens or foreign nationals.

Transnational efforts to prevent human trafficking are being made to prevent human trafficking in specific countries and around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in Texas</span> Overview of the situation of human trafficking in the U.S. state of Texas

Human trafficking in Texas is the illegal trade of human beings as it occurs in the state of Texas. It is a modern-day form of slavery and usually involves commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor, both domestic and agricultural.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human trafficking in Nevada</span>

Human trafficking in Nevada is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor as it occurs in the state of Nevada, and it is widely recognized as a modern-day form of slavery. It includes "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power, or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex trafficking in the United States</span>

Sex trafficking in the United States is a form of human trafficking which involves reproductive slavery or commercial sexual exploitation as it occurs in the United States. Sex trafficking includes the transportation of persons by means of coercion, deception and/or force into exploitative and slavery-like conditions. It is commonly associated with organized crime.

Human trafficking in Georgia is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor as it occurs in the US state of Georgia, and it is widely recognized as a modern-day form of slavery. Human trafficking includes "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power, or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs."

Sex trafficking in China is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the People's Republic of China. China, the world's second-most populous country, has the second highest number of human trafficking victims in the world. It is a country of origin, destination, and transit for sexually trafficked persons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex trafficking in Vietnam</span>

Sex trafficking in Vietnam is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Vietnam is a source and, to a lesser extent, destination country for sexually trafficked persons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex trafficking in Cambodia</span>

Sex trafficking in Cambodia is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Cambodia is a country of origin, destination and transit for sex trafficked persons.

Sex trafficking in the Philippines is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of the Philippines. The Philippines is a country of origin and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit for sexually trafficked persons.

Sex trafficking in Japan is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the country. Japan is a country of origin, destination, and transit for sexually trafficked persons.

Cybersex trafficking, live streaming sexual abuse, webcam sex tourism/abuse or ICTs -facilitated sexual exploitation is a cybercrime involving sex trafficking and the live streaming of coerced sexual acts and/or rape on webcam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex trafficking in Guatemala</span>

Sex trafficking in Guatemala is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of Guatemala.

References

  1. 1 2 "Erica Greve '94 founds charity for child victims of sex slavery". www.asl.org. American School of London. October 4, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Verdi, Jim. "Greater Good". omagdigital.com. Society Life. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "About Unlikely Heroes". unlikelyheroes.com. Unlikely Heroes. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kirkpatrick, Evan (January 30, 2014). "The 'Unlikely' Social-Cause Startup Attracting Young Hollywood". Forbes . Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  5. ↑ Daunt (November 9, 2014). "SERINDA SWAN, BONNIE ABAUNZA HONORED FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Hollywoood Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Parker, Ashley (November 16, 2016). "Nikki Reed Hosts Unlikely Heroes 4th Annual Recognizing Heroes Charity Benefit". Yahoo News. IBTimes. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
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