Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Dream Center to run for human trafficking awareness March 18 in LA

Founder of the Dream Center, Matthew Barnett, and 25 other members of the Dream Center will be running to fight against human trafficking.



WHAT: The Honda LA Marathon, one of the largest organized road races in the country, encourages Los Angeles to “Run For Something.” This a unique event for runners and fans to experience the beauty and diversity of Los Angeles with a running course that goes through Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and passes through world-famous landmarks.



WHEN: SUNDAY, MARCH 18th at 7:24 a.m. PST



WHERE: The race starts at Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and ends on Ocean Avenue at the intersection of Ocean Ave and California Avenue in Santa Monica.



WHY: The Dream Center will be the only charity at the Honda LA Marathon to bring awareness to human trafficking. Also participating is a human trafficking survivor and member of the Dream Center’s program, Project Hope LA.



About Project Hope LA

Project Hope LA is a ministry dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and restoration of the lives of women who have become victims of Human/Sex Trafficking. Human/Sex Trafficking is quickly becoming one of the world’s most profitable criminal industries. It is estimated that there are over 27 Million victims in the world. The average age of entry into the commercial sex industry is only 12 to 14 years old.



The Dream Center’s program was established to address the specific needs faced by victims of the growing human trafficking industry. The program offers safe refuge and professional assistance such as medical, legal and counseling services so that victims of human trafficking in all its forms can be restored as functioning members of society.

About the Dream Center

The Dream Center, a volunteer driven organization that finds and fills the needs of individuals and families alike, was founded in 1994 and currently serves over 40,000 people each month.

Services and programs offered include residential rehabilitation programs for teens and adults, a shelter for victims of human trafficking, a transitional shelter for homeless families, mobile hunger relief and medical programs, and a foster care intervention outreach that works closely with Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to keep families intact by delivering the required furnishings, clothing and food to assure that their homes meet DCFS standards. Programs such as adult basic education, job skills training, and life skills counseling are also to homeless families and individuals continue to establish The Dream Center as a vital community development resource.

The Dream Center’s record of success has led to the launch of over 100 independent Dream Centers nationally, as well as internationally.



Visit http://www.dreamcenter.org/get-involved/marathon/ for more information or to donate to the cause.

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