“At least 500 children and youth (under age 24) are trafficked each year in Seattle alone, and many more are at risk of exploitation online every day,” said Patty Fleischmann, co-founder of StolenYouth. “We are grateful to the mayor’s office for answering our call to declare May 7th as ‘Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Day’ to help raise awareness of this epidemic and one of the human rights issues of our time.”

 

Founded in 2012 to prevent child sex trafficking before it happens, connect victims to resources and services, and empower survivors to live positive and productive lives, StolenYouth is the only local organization focused exclusively on ending child sex trafficking across the state. Since its inception, StolenYouth has raised over $11 million to fight the sexual exploitation of children and youth.

 

“Sexual exploitation of youth is at an all-time high in this post-pandemic, digital era, and the problem is only growing, but so is our fortitude in the fight against child sex trafficking,” said Renee Wallace, a StolenYouth board member. “No child should be bought or sold for sex, and every victim of exploitation deserves compassion, access to services, and a way out when they wish to leave ‘the life.’”

 

The Ginny Meisenbach Survivor Support Fund was established by StolenYouth in memory of our beloved co-founder, Ginny, to honor her vision of supporting individual survivors through small, but important grants. Since its establishment in 2017, we have granted over $217k, empowering survivors on their healing and recovery journey. From medical costs and legal fees to ensuring stable housing and access to education, your donation will help survivors tackle these challenges head on. Even small gifts have a significant impact. By supporting the Ginny Fund, you become an essential part of our collective effort to empower survivors who have endured unimaginable hardships and provide them with the opportunity to create a brighter future. Your contribution is pivotal and can create lasting change. 

Since 2017, we have given more than 250,000 in grants to survivors in need - and by the end of this calendar year, it will be closer to $300,000. That total represents more than 250 individual survivors impacted. The grants range in size but the average Ginny Fund grant these days is $500. This kind of one-time emergency funding often doesn't require a huge sum of money but is so hard to come by - so even when the amount is smaller, the impact remains big.

The Empowerment Fund was created in partnership with the Robins Nest Family Foundation to support survivors of sex trafficking & exploitation as they change the circumstances of their lives. An education or job training is key to a survivor fully escaping 'the life'. That’s why the Empowerment Fund grants are specifically for education & career-related costs.