We are honored to be recognized by the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches through the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force with the Defender of Freedom Award at An Afternoon for Freedom. Catholic Charities co-leads the task force with the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office.
This special event, held on February 4, 2026, brought together community leaders, advocates, survivors, and supporters at the Lake Pavilion in West Palm Beach to honor those working tirelessly to end human trafficking in our community. The gathering celebrated champions of advocacy, innovation, and service, all united by a shared vision of a future free from exploitation.
Receiving the Defender of Freedom Award is a humbling milestone for Catholic Charities. This recognition reflects the collective commitment of our dedicated staff, partners, volunteers, and supporters to serve, uplift, and empower survivors of human trafficking through compassion, hope, and unwavering support.
At Catholic Charities, our Bakhita Empowerment Program and broader victim services team strive daily to provide comprehensive care and resources—from crisis intervention and safety planning to housing, legal advocacy, emotional support, life skills, and more—to those impacted by trafficking in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
This award belongs not just to our organization, but to every individual and agency that stands alongside us in this fight. Together—with law enforcement, service providers, educators, community members, and survivors—we are strengthening our response to human trafficking and creating pathways to freedom, healing, and renewed possibility.
To the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office:
Thank you for your leadership, your partnership, and your steadfast dedication to survivors and to our community. Your collaborative work fuels transformative change and brings hope to countless lives.
We look forward to continuing this important journey together—uniting compassion with action, and commitment with hope—as we work toward a future where exploitation has no place, and every person can live with dignity and freedom.
