Scenes from the 2022 New Friends New Life Luncheon, Featuring Actress and Activist Julia Ormond
Powerful Speakers Helped the Dallas Nonprofit Surpass Its Goals
BY PaperCity Staff Report // 11.11.22
Co-Chair Melissa Sherrill Martin; Co-Chair Kristi Sherrill Hoyl; Julia Ormond; Bianca Davis, CEO, New Friends New Life; Tracey Nash-Huntley, board chair, New Friends New Life; Co-Chair Katherine Wynne; Hon. Co-Chair Matrice Ellis-Kirk; Hon. Co-Chair Ambassador Ron Kirk (Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Celeste Cass)
What: The 2022 luncheon for New Friends New Life, a Dallas-based organization that empowers those who have been trafficked or sexually exploited and drives awareness about the staggering prevalence of the issue today.
Where: Friday, November 4 at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Dallas.
The Scene: “While the issue of human trafficking is heavy, heartbreaking, and hard, you will learn today the New Friends New Life is offering hope, healing, and a measure of happiness to hundreds of brave survivors and vulnerable youth each year,” the day’s emcee, Shelly Slater, stated at the start of the luncheon.
Following an invocation by Dr. Cynthia Mickens Ross, Matt Osborne and Priya Murphy of NFNL presented the 2022 ProtectHER recipients: Lynn McBee, a philanthropic and leadership force in Dallas and longtime champion for women and girls; Santander Consumer USA Foundation, which has provided the funding for an on-site Legal Advocacy Clinic with a staff attorney working on-site at NFNL to help members with legal contracts and cases preventing them from moving forward in life; and Dr. Nissi Hamilton, a child sex trafficking survivor who became an award-winning advocate, gave an impassioned acceptance speech to the riveted audience.
“Human traffic is the second slavery,” said Hamilton as she shared her inspiring story. “We’re not just asking you to write checks and give money. I’m asking you to be a burden bearer. Because that’s what New Friends New Life does.”
Suzanne Massey representing Santander Consumer USA Foundation, Inc; Nissi Hamilton; Lynn McBee
New Friends New Life CEO Bianca Davis then introduced keynote speaker, Emmy award-winning actress, founder, and activist Julia Ormond, who flew into Dallas three days prior to immerse herself into the work of the organization and participate in one of NFNL’s educational bus tours.
Outdoor Dining with Bering's
At the conclusion of the luncheon, the impact of Ormond’s words was evident — day-of donations totaled $99,000, helping New Friends New Life surpass its goal with $560,000 in net proceeds raised.
The Seen: New Friends New Life 2022 luncheon co-chairs Katherine Wynne, Kristi Sherrill Hoyl, and Melissa Sherrill Martin, along with honorary co-chairs Matrice Ellis-Kirk and former Dallas Mayor, Ambassador Ron Kirk. Top sponsors were also in attendance, including Nancy Ann and Ray Hunt, Tracey Nash-Huntley and David Huntley, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, Southwest Airlines, and the Jensen Project as well as Nancy and Randy Best and Carolyn and David Miller. Additional guests included Robin Bagwell, Elizabeth Gambrell, Maggie Kipp, Jan Langbein, Wendy Messmann, Caren Prothro, Jenna Quinn, Ted Poe, Pat Schenkel, Beth Thoele, Gail and Dr. R. Gerald Turner, Jessica Turner-Waugh, and Jimmy Westcott.
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