WILLIAMSBURG — Latisha’s House, a Williamsburg organization that helps provide long-term housing, support, and recovery services to adult women who have survived sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, is hosting its annual gala on Oct. 25.
During the gala evening, Latisha’s House supporters and sex trafficking survivors will speak about the organization and the assistance that it provides. The evening will also feature an awards presentation and a keynote address by famed college and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.
Tebow, who played college football for the University of Florida, where he ultimately won the Heisman Trophy, helps trafficking survivors through his Tim Tebow Foundation. Her Song, a charitable arm of the foundation, helps provide housing and support for sex trafficking victims.
Elizabeth Ameling, founder and CEO of Latisha’s House, met Tebow while lobbying on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
“We have seen him at the White House and at the Capitol a lot. He is such a presence. He is a big man in every way. Some people will come because he is a Heisman Trophy winner, some people love baseball and football, but at the end of the day, I’m sure if you asked Tim what he would want, he would want child exploitation to be ended and survivors to be free,” Ameling said.
Funds raised from the gala will go towards the expansion of Latisha’s House, with the goal of raising enough money to purchase property to add more housing for survivors and to establish The Freedom Project.
“We have survivors who come, they’ve lost their children or are losing their children, and in 12 months, they are better but they are not ready to be parents yet. Our Freedom Project would be housing for moms and their kids with someone on site so you have counseling financial literacy, job skills, training, sobriety, all of those wonderful things. The idea is that you live at The Freedom Project for two years in your own house with your kids where you are independent but still having help to build positive habits, financially stability and sobriety,” Ameling explained.
At the end of the two years in The Freedom Project, each survivor will be matched with a mentor, a mortgage broker and a realtor. At the end of the three years of being at Latisha’s House, each survivor will have saved enough money to be able to put a down payment on a house.
Ameling added that the ultimate goal of the Latisha’s House expansion is to be able to help end the cycle of poverty.
“There is nothing like being a homeowner and saying to your kids, ‘This is ours.’ It’s life-changing. The statistics show that when you empower people to have autonomy and choice over their lives, they do better. These women can become incredibly successful and they aren’t being stigmatized by their past,” Ameling said.
The gala will be held at Kingsmill Resort on Oct. 25 from 4:30-9:30 p.m. There will be a three-course dinner, open bar, cocktail hour, remarks by Tebow and Ameling, a live auction, a silent auction and dancing with music provided by Good Shot Judy.
Tickets are on sale and more information can be found at LatishasHouse.com.