Edward & Margaret Marsh Foundation Awards Grant for CEASE El Paso

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Edward N. and Margaret G. Marsh Foundation Awards Grant to CHILDREN AT RISK

Media Contact: Rashena Flagg, 713.301.4577

EL PASO, TX (August 27, 2021) – CHILDREN AT RISK was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Edward N. and Margaret G. Marsh Foundation to help fund the nonprofit’s Center to End the Trafficking and Exploitation of Children and expand the Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation program (CEASE) in El Paso.

Sex trafficking exists because there is a receptive market of male buyers willing to purchase and exploit victims. If there are no buyers, there is no demand, and no demand means no victims. CEASE Texas is a collaborative effort to end the demand for commercial sex and human trafficking victims. CEASE Texas regions achieve this goal by gathering real-time data on the online buyer landscape via a dashboard & chatbot, convening local stakeholders to collaborate in combating demand, and establishing volunteer cyber patrols.

Before launching CEASE El Paso this summer, CHILDREN AT RISK supported CEASE efforts in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Corpus Christi, and San Angelo. In 2020, 707 purchase attempts were disrupted by CEASE volunteers, and 40 cyber patrols were conducted across the state.

“We are very grateful to the Marsh Foundation,” said Dr. Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK. “We have laid the groundwork in El Paso by building relationships and engaging groups trying to end trafficking in the region. This grant will help us expand CEASE in the borderland.”

The Marsh Foundation grant will:

• • Strengthen local coalitions, including more frequent meetings and strategy sessions with local leaders and law enforcement
  • Allow for the sifting through unique data on trafficking activity online, where selling is initiated
  • Conduct Cyber Patrols and intervene on buyers, with local volunteers
  • Work with partners to create a plan to build out local sustainability over time

In addition to CEASE programming, The Center to End the Trafficking and Exploitation of Children (CETEC) at CHILDREN AT RISK works to educate the community through legal research, studying trafficking trends, and collaborating with organizations on the frontlines to determine community needs. Once identified, resources are provided for public officials in support of legislative change.

The 87th Legislative Session had many anti-trafficking wins. For more information, visit childrenatrisk.org/87th.

CHILDREN AT RISK is a research and advocacy nonprofit leading the way in improving the quality of life for Texas’ children. CHILDREN AT RISK considers the whole child by tracking issues in children’s health, safety, education, and economic security. Committed to action beyond the data, CHILDREN AT RISK drives evidence-based change by speaking out on behalf of children.

To learn more about the CETEC and CEASE TEXAS click the button below.