Run For Courage, Inc. announces 2011 beneficiaries

Four non-profit organizations, Courage To Be You, A New Day For Children, WIND Youth Services and Agape International Missions (AIM), will be awarded funding from proceeds raised at the second Run For Courage 5K/10K Race to be held Saturday, October 8 at 8 a.m. in Folsom. Sex trafficking is one America's fastest-growing crimes and the same trend is happening overseas. The average age of a girl coerced or forced to sell her body for commercial profit in the United States is 13 years old. Tight budgets, unclear laws and limited resources often restrict a state's ability to help girls who have escaped the bondage of slavery. Run For Courage, Inc, a 501(c)3 based in El Dorado Hills, functions as a fund-raising arm for organizations that support minor victims of sex trafficking. They employ an Evaluate-Donate-Monitor methodology to determine which organizations are working most efficiently and effectively to raise awareness and restore victims of sex trafficking. The first organization receiving funding is Placer County based Courage To Be You (C2BU) who built a group home called Courage House in 2010. Courage House opened its doors August 1st of this year and will provide a long term, safe, therapeutic and educational environment in which minor girls can heal from the trauma suffered as a result of commercial sexual exploitation. Ultimately, Courage House will prepare these girls for the transition to self-sufficient, independent living.Located west of Sacramento, New Day For Children also provides long-term comprehensive care for trafficked victims between the ages of 10-18. WIND Youth Services, located in Sacramento, employs advocates that work with youth experiencing homelessness and who need safety from the streets. WIND also provides the resources necessary to help the victims move from crisis to a healthy, functioning and independent life. Sexual exploitation is a recurring issue for these youth who are able to access a variety of services at WIND including shelter, health care and counseling.AIM, founded by Don Brewster of Roseville, is an international non-profit organization that runs a long-term after-care center called Agape Restoration Center in Cambodia. ARC serves girls who have been rescued from the sex slave trade. Sadly, child trafficking has become a cultural expectation in some villages in Cambodia and over one third of the victims in the country are children. Over 152 girls, some as young as 4 years old, have lived at ARC where a loving, professionally-trained staff works to meet their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. To date 101 of them have been reintegrated into Cambodian society as independent adults.Run For Courage, Inc. is focused on collaborating with their running partners and sponsors to combat sex trafficking one race at a time in as many cities as possible. Many local businesses have sponsored the October 8th race at the Parkway Trails in Folsom, including Platinum Sponsor, The Crowley Children's Fund and Gold Sponsors Sunrise Manufacturing and Dr. David Datwyler. In total there are over 30 sponsors that supported the Folsom event. This year's race will feature twice the number vendors, as well as several other collaborative non-profits.This year's race features several improvements over last year's event. Synergy timing will be providing disposable chip timing for every runner/walker, ensuring each participant receives accurate race results. Eastbound 50 will return to provide music and entertainment. Finally, RFC expects to almost double the 146 volunteers who helped make the 2010 race such a success. Race registration is open at www.runforcourage.org. and early registration ends on September 30th. Register now! Adults and children are welcome to participate. We look forward to seeing you at The Race To End Sex Trafficking. About Run For Courage, Inc.:Run For Courage, Inc. is a non-profit that exists to raise awareness and funds to combat sex trafficking. RFC accomplishes this thorough organizing large scale events such as 5 and 10K races. RFC employs their Evaluate-Donate-Monitor methodology to determine those organizations that are most efficiently and effectively raising awareness and restoring victims of sex trafficking to give to every year.