ODCA fundraising online to end modern day slavery

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2014

THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, AND CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY LAUNCH ONLINE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO END MODERN DAY SLAVERY

*Please consider contributing on Indiegogo

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF), and Chapman University are pleased to announce the launch of their online fundraising campaign with the world’s most established crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo, for the 2nd Annual “Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking & Rally” on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, at Chapman University.

The event will increase community awareness of human exploitation and trafficking, the second largest criminal enterprise in the nation, behind narcotics trafficking, that nets approximately $32 billion a year. A free rock concert will immediately follow with Stan Frazier and Murphy Karges of Sugar Ray. Elected officials, law enforcement, non-profits, private law firms, businesses, and private citizens have all donated to this cause and support is growing. To make a donation of any amount and to join the cause, please visit http://igg.me/at/beatheat.

Amber’s Story

It takes about $3,000 to $4,000 a month to provide housing and counseling services for a rescued girl who is on the road to recovery. Amber Doe, a minor victim of commercial sex, is an example of a young girl who has been rescued and restored as a result of the hard work of both the OCDA and the OCHTTF. Through cooperation from and collaboration with the juvenile court judge presiding over this case, Orange County Social Services, Anaheim Police Department (APD), OCHTTF, and OCDA, Amber Doe was brought to a nonprofit facility for restoration.

Now, Amber Doe is thriving and is about to graduate from high school. She wants to become a victim advocate and is planning to attend law school one day. “My priorities are now in order and I know what I want and need in life,” said Amber Doe. “I appreciate all of the people who have walked this path with me and did everything in their power to make sure I was okay.”

All funds raised through this campaign will go to underwrite the 2nd Annual “Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking & Rally” and directly to assist victims of human exploitation and trafficking. Your support publicizes the evils of human exploitation and trafficking and restores lives and rescues children. Please visit http://igg.me/at/beatheat to make a donation today.

• 2nd Annual “Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking & Rally Event Highlights, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Clotheslines Project at Attallah Piazza, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Luncheon and Keynote at AF 201, OCDA Tony Rackauckas and Anaheim Police Chief Raul Quezada to host survivor stories, 1:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
• Sociological Implications of Human Trafficking at AF 209ABC, 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
• Legislative Impact of Human Trafficking: U.S. Representative Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to moderate the panel. Panelists include: U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, Senator Lou Correa, Senator Mimi Walters, and Assemblyman Donald Wagner, 3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
• Walk Against Violence at Attallah Piazza to City of Orange, 3:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Community Agency Fair at Attallah Piazza: Meet with over 20 nonprofit groups working to end human trafficking and exploitation, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Rally and Concert at Attallah Piazza: Stand Frazier and Murphy Karges of Sugar Ray will lead the evening with other Orange County musicians who have donated their time

Co-Sponsors

The OCDA would like to thank the co-sponsors for this event:

Elected Officials

U.S. Representative Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez; State Board of Equalization Vice Chair Michelle Steel; Senator Lou Correa; Senator Mimi Walters; Assemblyman Donald Wagner; Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors Shawn Nelson; Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen; Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Steve Baric; Diamond Bar Councilwoman Ling Ling Chang; and Anaheim Councilwoman Kris Murray.

Law Enforcement

OCDA Tony Rackauckas, his Chief of Staff Susan Kang Schroeder, Anaheim Chief of Police Raul Quezada, The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, Anaheim Police Department, Brea Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Cypress Police Department, Fountain Valley Police Department, Garden Grove Police Department, Huntington Beach Police Department, Irvine Police Department, Laguna Beach Police Department, La Habra Police Department, La Palma Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Placentia Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Tustin Police Department, and Westminster Police Department.

Non-Profits

Community Service Programs, Inc.; The Pepper Project; Casa Youth Shelter; iSanctuary; Get Safe USA; The Joyful Child Foundation; Magnolia Baptist Church; Human Trafficking Survivors Foundation; Parents of Murdered Children; United Nations Association of Orange County; Cottonwood Church; Free Them; Justice & Trafficking Initiative at Saddleback Church; Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc.; and Women’s Transitional Living Center.

Private Citizens

Mike Schroeder; Kris Plourde and N-Effect Productions; Julianna Nagle, a 17-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador who raised over $500 for this event; Gibson Dunn and Crutcher, LLP; Newmeyer & Dillon, LLP; and Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis, Inc. Anyone interested in becoming a co-sponsor can contact Chief of Staff Susan Kang Schroeder at (714) 347-8408 or email beatHEAT@da.ocgov.com.

Additional sponsors will be named in the weeks to come. Tax deductible event sponsorship opportunities are available at $500, $1,000 and $5,000 levels. All event sponsors will receive two tickets to the luncheon event and access to the VIP area at the concert, as well as program recognition. Supporters who contribute on the $1,000 and $5,000 levels will be given full table sponsorship, as well as additional tickets to the VIP areas of the concert. All funds will go to underwrite the event and any money left over will go directly to help victims.

For more information, and to RSVP on Facebook, please visit http://bit.ly/BeatHEAT. To make a donation, please visit http://igg.me/at/beatheat.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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