New Friends New Life – Empowering Women To Overcome Their Past

Rostin Ventures and Social Media Outreach are proud to announce their support of New Friends New Life.

New Friends New Life is a faith-based organization located in the Dallas metroplex that allows women to leave the degradation of the sex industry and build new lives for themselves and their children. New Friends New Life helps women overcome backgrounds of abuse, addiction, poverty and limited opportunities by providing access to education, job training, financial assistance and spiritual support.

“These women can literally walk in off the streets and get their physical, mental and emotional needs met here,” said executive director of New Friends New Life Katie Pedigo “It’s a special place for them to come and be safe.” 

In 2011, the center helped 400 women and children get back on their feet.

“We’ve already seen a dramatic increase in the number for 2012,” said Pedigo “We aren’t just trying to help the woman, we are trying to restore her entire family. We offer counseling, mentoring and tutoring to the children. Eighty percent of the women we help have children.”

To try to prevent children from falling into prostitution, New Friends New Life works with the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center. The organization counsels girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who have been victims of sexual abuse to prevent them from being trafficked when they leave.

“The average age of entry into prostitution is 13 years old. These girls have usually been abused as a child and to escape the abuse, they run away,” Said Pedigo “Within 48 hours, these girls are approached by a pimp who takes all of their freedom away. That’s why the work we do at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center is critical.”

To help implement its programs, New Friends New Life relies on a dedicated circle of volunteers – its Circle of Friends.

“Circle of Friends is volunteer-based. They are the manpower behind our organization,” said Pedigo “Some volunteers raise awareness, some help with fundraising. From being budget mentors to GED tutors, there is a variety of ways to help.”

Anyone who is interested in helping women and children overcome their background in the sex industry is encouraged to join Circle of Friends.

“New Friends New Life is a transformational, holistic program,” said Pedigo “When these women come in, for the most part they have no job and no education. We assist them with rent, childcare and other everyday necessities until they become self-sufficient.”

New Friends New Life’s transformational, holistic program has helped numerous women get back on their feet and create a stable, safe environment for their children. To raise money to fund the numerous services the center provides from counseling to financial assistances, New Life New Friends and their Circle of Friends host three fundraisers per year.

The most recent fundraiser, the WINGS Luncheon, was held in April and featured bestselling author of the Notebook, A Walk to Remember and The Lucky One, Nicholas Sparks and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. During the event, Abbott reported on the scope and nature of human trafficking in Texas and legislative preventive measures. New Friends New Life reported on their community activities designed to help women get out of the sex industry and premiered a video highlighting two women’s journey out of the sex industry.

Anyone interested in supporting New Friends New Life is encouraged to attend their next event, join Circle of Friends, make a donation or volunteer. For more information on these activities, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org

Also, share this article on Facebook or Twitter to help Social Media Outreach and New Friends New Life raise awareness for human trafficking and its victims.