Page 20 - Waterways_Feb_2019

SOCIAL SCENE

Development Officer Angela Glode
and Michael Simons, immediate past chair
of SAFE’s board, welcomed attendees as
they enjoyed an elegant meal. An all-girls
choir from THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL
provided entertainment with a medley of
show tunes.
The live auction after dinner was a
rousing affair led for the seventh year
by Heath Hale and his team of cowboy
auctioneers. Items up for bid included
weeklong getaways to a private island in
Belize, a private meal at Franklin Barbeque
for 20 guests hosted by pitmaster Aaron
Shara Hicks, Shawn Michelle Evans, Sharon Murray, Sumina Bhatti,
Holly McCormick, Yvette Boatwright, Sara Warner, Fara Kosari Franklin himself as well as luxury getaways
to Sri Lanka. By the end of the evening, all
the event’s fundraising efforts garnered
Celebrating a winning bid about $1.2 million for the SAFE Children’s
Shelter.
Victoria Gonzales, the gala’s keynote
speaker, made personal the work of SAFE
CARES, the organization’s program that
supports are survivors of sexual exploitation
and trafficking ages 12 and older. Gonzales
is a SAFE CARES advocate because she’s
a sex trafficking survivor. “I was an object,
tossed around and given and taken while
my self-esteem was continually shat-
Janine Johnson, Scott Ertresvaag tered,” she shared. “At 15 years old I had
been sold to over 200 men,” she revealed,
her voice quaking.
“Healing happens differently for every-
one, but I’m utilizing all the gifts that God
gave me to help others to fight the feelings
of shame and loss, build self-esteem and
find peace.” She shares her story with SAFE
CARES clients to help them understand
Kari Hamilton, Amy Bergstrom that they have value and deserve “real love.”
Gonzales said triumphantly to the roughly
800 attendees, “I’m living proof that
Jena Simons, Ari Hartung, Michael Simons
human trafficking survivors can and do
make it out.” PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM ORTIZ PORTRAIT ART AND BOBBY SCHEIDEMANN/EMMA ROGERS/SAFE ALLIANCE
Amy Gandy, Amanda Dudley
The Storybook Gala also honored
Gretchen and Bob Ellis, the 2018 recipients
of the Guardian Award. Gretchen had
previously served on the boards of SAFE’s
founding agencies, Austin Children’s Shel-
ter and SafePlace. She and Bob both have
served Austin with years of philanthropic
work separately and together.
The event finished with the opportunity
to take a whirl on the dance floor before
the storybook evening came to an end.

Todd and Christy deClairmont
18 WATERWAYS | February 2019