North Fulton community invited to raise funds and awareness for local anti-trafficking nonprofit
In celebration of International Day of the Girl, She Is Safe, a local anti-trafficking nonprofit organization, will sponsor and host a series of events at Avalon in Alpharetta from Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Friday, Oct. 11. International Day of the Girl aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
She Is Safe works in eight countries and has a mission to educate, equip, rescue and restore “forgotten” girls who are ensnared, or in danger of becoming victims to sex trafficking, human slavery, domestic violence and childhood marriage. She Is Safe Founder and CEO Michele Rickett notes, “99% of people trafficked for sexual exploitation are women and girls; 80% of all humans trafficked are women and girls; 250 million girls are forced into marriage as children; and one in three women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.”
In honor of International Day of the Girl, Avalon will dedicate its weekly Signature Events Series to raising funds and awareness for She Is Safe. The events will be produced by Events of a Lifetime Productions. Details on each event are outlined below:
- Little Acorns, Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon – Parents and caregivers are invited to bring their pre-school aged tots for free playtime fun in The Plaza, where they will create butterfly artwork. The event will also feature a special activity for moms and caregivers.
- AvalOM, Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. – Enjoy a special yoga class in The Plaza featuring exclusive swag as well as an opportunity to learn about ways to keep girls safe from human trafficking.
- Avalon Sip & Stroll, Thursday, Oct. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. – Sponsored by Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau, guests are invited to explore Avalon Boulevard while sipping on delicious signature cocktails from select retailers and restaurants. A portion of the evening’s sales will be donated to She Is Safe.
- From Avalon to the World: Day of the Girl Celebration, Friday, Oct. 11 at 4:30 p.m. – Gather in The Plaza for music, special guest speakers, face-painting, comments from Survivor Leaders and the official unveiling of Safe Haven’s Butterfly Sculpture. At 5:30 p.m., guests will be invited by their emcee, local celebrityJacqueline Arnold, to take part in a live, en masse butterfly release that symbolizes setting girls free from a life of slavery and human trafficking. Butterflies will be available for a suggested, cash-only donation of $5. The butterfly release is co-sponsored by Sharon Austin, J.D. REALTOR, Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International Realty and Sherri Harris, Chief Executive Officer of The Safe Zone.
- Free a Girl. Change the World. She Is Safe Fundraising Gala, Friday Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. – Following the butterfly release, guests are invited to a glamorous fundraising gala at The Hotel at Avalon. During the event, attendees will experience a Sip & Share reception on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, followed by an inspiring dinner and program in the Teasley Ballroom, which will feature performances by Harmony: Atlanta’s International Youth Chorus and Sideways Contemporary Dance Company. To purchase tickets or for more information on sponsorship opportunities, https://sheissafe.org.
“We’re always looking for exciting new ways to activate Avalon that encourage the North Fulton community to give back to local nonprofits,” said Cayley Mullen, hospitality and marketing manager at Avalon. “We’re honored to partner with She is Safe for International Day of the Girl and are looking forward to raising funds and awareness for an organization that is doing life-changing work around the world.”
For additional event information, visit experienceavalon.com/events. Guests are encouraged to share their experience on social media using the hashtag #AvalonInsider.
About She Is Safe:
A 501C3 non-profit with a mission to free, restore and equip every girl for who she was meant to be.
The Roswell, Georgia based organization was founded by Michele Rickett over 16 years ago. The organization now works in eight countries to educate, rescue and restore girls from human trafficking, sex slavery, childhood marriage and domestic violence. www.SheIsSafe.org
About Safe Haven, The Global Butterfly Movement: The Power to End Human Trafficking
While working on a fundraiser for She Is Safe, Atlanta Event Planners Gillian Marto and Deb Hull realized there was no global initiative or umbrella representative of ALL the groups, individuals and movements working to end all types of human trafficking. They founded the Safe Haven project to unify the efforts and provide a powerful, universal symbol that TRAFFICKING IS NOT TOLERATED HERE. The public art initiative gives cities, companies, individuals, and entities the opportunity to purchase a butterfly sculpture and have it customized. The beautiful, public display of art will signify that the people displaying the art are educated on the problem and are also a “Safe Haven” for those in peril. The artwork has a sponsor plate with a QR code for people to use their smart phones to get more information on the sponsor, organizations & numbers for help, and survivor stories. The Safe Haven butterfly pin will become the global symbol of anti-trafficking and representative of a safe person to approach for those in peril. For more information, call Gillian and Deb at 770.595.9115.
About the International Day of the Girl:
The International Day of the Girl (October 11, 2019) is an international observance day declared by the United Nations. It supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide. This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women, and forced child marriage.
About Avalon
Avalon is anewexperience in the timeless art of living well. In the heart of Alpharetta, an affluent suburb north of Atlanta, this sustainably designed, 86-acre community features more than 500,000 square feet of retail, a 12-screen all premium theater, conference center and full-service hotel, Class A office, single-family residences and luxury rental homes. Avalon infuses resort-level hospitality throughout a walkable, seamlessly connected community of shopping, dining, entertainment, living and working. It’s more than just another place to go, it’s a place to be — a hub of activity that delivers the luxury of the modern South. At 2.4 million square feet and more than $1 billion, Avalon has disrupted the industry, defining anewstandard for retail-driven mixed-use development. You can find more updates on Avalon at its website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter profile.
About Events of a Lifetime Productions:
Events of a Lifetime Productions is an award-winning corporate, social and charity event producer. Known for their compelling, experiential events, coupled with targeted brand and marketing approaches, founder Gillian Marto and Debra Hull excel in making certain that their clients’ events are worth their investment. www.
