FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Details will be Announced at the OUR Rescue “Rise Up. Get Loud.” Event July 28 at the Saint Paul Saints Game in Conjunction with “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons”
MINNEAPOLIS (July 18, 2024) – OUR Rescue, a leading nonprofit dedicated to combating human trafficking and child sexual exploitation worldwide, today announced that it is establishing a Center of Excellence (COE) to serve Minnesota. As the organization finalizes the location of the COE, OUR Rescue also committed $100,000 in matching grants for Minnesota nonprofits focused on ending human sex trafficking. Details of the grant program and the COE will be announced as the organization hosts its inaugural “Rise Up. Get Loud.” event at CHS Field during the July 28 Saint Paul Saints game. Tickets are available on online.
This event coincides with others hosted across the globe in recognition of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, the day encourages taking action against human trafficking and promoting and protecting the rights of trafficking victims.
“With the expansion of OUR Rescue’s work in Minnesota, we are launching a matching grant program to help support the efforts of the great work already being done here by other nonprofits. We will provide more details as we commemorate World Day Against Trafficking during the Saint Paul Saints game,” said Tammy Lee, OUR Rescue CEO. “The Center of Excellence will broaden our base of volunteers and donors who make it possible to double down on combating human trafficking by supporting the work of law enforcement agencies and providing comprehensive survivor care programs for the children and women we help rescue.”
An OUR Rescue information table will be located inside the ballpark gate where attendees will get more details and learn how to become a donor or volunteer. Attendees also can meet Sota and Luna, the OUR Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and K9 Dottie with the Hibbing Police Department. ESD K9s detect the presence of electronic storage devices and other digital evidence such as hard drives, USB drives, and cell phones used by pedophiles and human traffickers to exploit children and adults.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office reported that Minneapolis is one of the top locations in the United States for child sex trafficking. Sex traffickers target the state’s most vulnerable, including children, mothers of young children, chemically addicted individuals and those having a history of neglect, abuse, or mental health challenges.
Since 2013, OUR Rescue’s work has contributed both directly and indirectly to more than 4,000 suspected predator arrests, thousands of survivors assisted, and 1,000+ operations supported. The organization has five regional teams of in-country Operators and Survivor Care team members in Asia, the Middle East/Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the United States/Canada.
###
About OUR Rescue
Headquartered in Salt Lake City with Centers of Excellence in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Dallas-Fort Worth, OUR Rescue is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the fight against child sexual exploitation and human trafficking worldwide. Founded in 2013, the organization’s work spans the globe, assisting law enforcement and funding equipment and training to help develop and prosecute cases. Additionally, OUR Rescue donates Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s to police and provides comprehensive survivor care services. To learn more visit www.OURrescue.org
Contact:
Jeanne Carpenter
612.803.1282