I was introduced to one of the incredibly dedicated founders of the organization about four months ago. I had no idea when my friend invited me out to lunch, that it would end up being one of the most eye-opening, yet terribly disturbing afternoons of my life. When I arrived at the restaurant, my friend met me outside to fill me in on who we were dining with and what conversation I would be walking into right then. I feel terrible that I can't remember the other lady we met that day, but she was also a nonprofit founder, and seemed very sweet, but my attention was immediately on Lori from Starbright as she told one gruesome story after another about the victims of sex-trafficking right here in the Valley. I can honestly say that I was completely unaware that the crime even existed, and to hear that it was the #1 or #2 crime in Phoenix was more than a little alarming. That lunch lasted over three hours, but I don't even remember eating, and when I left the restaurant I immediately called my family to make sure that my kids were safe. I walked in my house leaving my laptop and cell phone in my car which is something that I NEVER do, but I was so overwhelmed and disturbed by all of the information that I had just taken in that I just had to sit quietly with my family and be grateful that they were unaware of the disgusting horrors that are taking place just a few miles away.
I didn't think that I would be able to help the organization, because I didn't think that I could stomach the situations that they deal with everyday, but I couldn't just walk away after meeting Lori. I know how it feels to be fighting a cause that no one knows or wants to know exists, and Lori is so passionate about saving these young girls that she puts her own life on the line almost daily. She works around the clock, but takes nothing from the organization for compensation. She puts every penny received in donations towards the work they are doing. She has created a safe house for victims of child abuse and sex-trafficking to heal and receive treatment from the horrors they have encountered. I have been fortunate enough to get to know Lori over the last few months, and I was thrilled to be able to help her save a substantial amount of money opening the safe house just by having contacts that could help her with issues she was being tied down with at the time. I plan to help Starbright in any way that i can, because I know that what they are doing is desperately needed, and that the organization's leaders are dedicated beyond words to helping children be safe and feel loved. They are leaders of deep faith and they are compelled to carry out the work that they were chosen to do.

I am a huge advocate for the Childhelp organization. I have had the opportunity to get to know several key people in the organization, and I have witnessed the love and dedication that they have for helping children. I sent the Merv Griffin Village a large box of new clothing for the children, and I not only received a personalized letter of appreciation from the founders, but they also left a voice message on my cell phone thanking me for my donation. I have never received such a sincere gesture of gratitude from any other organization, but it wasn't the gratitude of thanks that made Childhelp my first choice charity to support. It's what they have actually done to prove their words and commitment to treating and preventing child abuse. You don't receive a Nobel Peace nomination for overpaying your organization's leaders as one reviewer claimed, and if you receive five consecutive nominations, you must be doing something pretty damn amazing! I will continue to support Childhelp, because I trust the leadership and direction of the organization as long as Sara & Yvonne are involved.  The organization's motto, "For the love of a child", says it all.  Those words are the reason for Childhelp's actions and existence, and there is no one who can honestly deny that as the truth.